Evgeny Kissin appeared in Salzburg with compositions of the late Romantic and classical modern periods in the Großes Festspielhaus. Since his debut in 1987, the pianist has been a welcome guest at this festival, impressing with the maturity and brilliance of his playing. Kissin loves the dialogue with the audience and the direct power of the concert moment. With his solo recital, Evgeny Kissin presents the audience with a truly remarkable programme, a musical offering which inspires throughout, until the very last note fades away: “In a selection of encores, Kissin delivers the B-flat minor scherzo like a momentous pronouncement, alongside works by Debussy and Mendelssohn, as well as an original composition – he pulls them out of his sleeve, as impulsive and refined as if the concert had just begun.” (Salzburger Nachrichten) “Kissin blossoms into his full greatness” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) PROGRAM Chopin: Nocturne in B major op. 62/1, Impromptus Nos. 1–3 opp. 29, 36 & 51, Scherzo No. 1 & 2, Polonaise op. 53; Berg: Piano Sonata, op. 1; Khrennikov: Dance op. 5/3, 5 Pieces op. 2; Gershwin: Preludes for Piano; Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Andante con moto (“Duetto”) op. 38; Debussy: Clair de lune; Kissin: Dodecaphonic Tango op. 1/2
Andris Nelsons, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Yefim Bronfman at Lucerne Festival
The Latvian maestro Andris Nelsons is already one of the most sought-after young conductors in the world and once again served notice of his extraordinary talent when he conducted two concerts with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam at the prestigious Lucerne Festival. In the present recording of the second of these concerts (which are both available on DVD and Blu-ray from C Major Entertainment), Beethoven’s majestic Fifth Piano Concerto proves a memorable encounter between Nelsons and master pianist Yefim Bronfman, who remains calm and composed despite the piano part‘s virtuoso passage-work and knuckle-breaking chords. “A return to the magician of the podium: a conductor bursting with temperament and capable of conjuring up the most magnificent orchestral sonorities” (Neue Luzerner Zeitung).
Ivo Pogorelich plays Chopin, Beethoven, Scrjabin
Chopins 200th birthday comes in 2010 and this recital includes some of Chopin´s finest works. At the international Chopin competition in 1980, his spectacular failure to win the first price made him famous overnight. Martha Argerich, a member of the jury resigned in protest, claiming “Pogorelich is a genius!” These fantastic performances are from 1986 and 1987, when Pogorelich was in his late 20s during his high point of his career. Unitel recorded these works with the artist in venues of particularly striking beauty (Vincenca, Vienna, Turin, Padua). Comparing him with Horowitz, the New York Times once wrote: „He was an entire orchestra.” Programm includes A05501579, A05501580, A05501577, A05501576, A05501575, A05501570/71/72
Bolshoi Ballet – Live in the Park
Bolshoi is Russian for great, an often over-worked adjective, but in the case of the Bolshoi Ballet, it is a worthy description of the world’s most famous ballet company. On this tour to the UK, the Bolshoi proved that it is a company of absolutes, in flamboyance and daring, brilliance and technical execution; and these triumphant qualities are captured for posterity in a divertissement programme which shows off the Bolshoi’s top ranking soloists at their bravura best.
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazón – Episode 24
With unparalleled charm and whirlwind exuberance, world-renowned tenor Rolando Villazón hosts a unique television special in which young musical “stars of tomorrow” are introduced to millions of music lovers as soloists in performances with the Junge Sinfonie Berlin under the baton of Giedre Slekyte und Elias Grandy – a highly successful, casual, briskly paced concert series that appeals to young audiences!
Evgeny Kissin plays Bach, Mozart, Chopin & Rachmaninoff
In this piano recital, master pianist Evgeny Kissin spans the programme from Bach to Mozart to Chopin and Rachmaninoff. For the latter, Kissin makes a passionate commitment in the year of the composer’s 150th birthday: “Rachmaninoff’s music”, he says, “has a quality that speaks directly to people. There are no language barriers”. With the selection of one piece, Kissin consciously positions himself against Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine. Chopin’s Polonaise in F-sharp minor, Op. 44, became part of the recital at short notice. Composed in 1841, it was written at a time when Poland was in a similar situation as Ukraine is now: Warsaw was occupied by Russian troops. “Goosebumps, new insights, unanimous cheers” (Frankfurter Neue Presse)
Salzburg Festival 2021: Evgeny Kissin
Evgeny Kissin appeared in Salzburg in 2021 with compositions of the late Romantic and classical modern periods in the Großes Festspielhaus. Since his debut in 1987, the pianist has been a welcome guest at this festival, impressing with the maturity and brilliance of his playing. Kissin loves the dialogue with the audience and the direct power of the concert moment. PROGRAM Chopin: Scherzo Nos 1 & 2, Polonaise in A flat major, Op. 53 “Héroïque”, Nocturne in B major, Op. 62/1, Impromptu Nos 1-3; Berg: Piano Sonata, Op. 1; Khrennikov: Three pieces for piano, Op. 5: No. 3 Dance, Five pieces for piano, Op. 2; Gershwin: Three Preludes for Piano; Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Songs Without Words, Op. 38: No. 6 Duetto
A Musical Journey through Grafenegg
A special Grafenegg soirée – the festival’s artistic director, pianist Rudolf Buchbinder meets various voice leaders of the Tonkünstler orchestra in the middle of the impressive park for a musical get together. Well-known works by Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Haydn and Beethoven can be heard at various locations on the festival site, for example the Wolkenturm, outside the castle, the auditorium, the garden pavilion and the park’s idyllic biotope.
Lang Lang at the Royal Albert Hall
Since going on sale in November 2012, tickets for classical pianist Lang Lang’s solo recital at the Royal Albert Hall on November 15th 2013 sold out within 48 hours, a record for a recital by any classical musician at the venue in recent times. We’re delighted to be able to preserve his performance for the screen, so his many worldwide fans have a chance to experience the programme: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 5 in G major, KV 283 – Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major, KV 282 – Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, KV 310 – Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No. 1 Op 23 in G minor – Ballade No. 2 Op 38 in F Major – Ballade No. 3 Op 47 in A flat – Ballade No. 4 Op 52 in F minor.The word’s first 4K classical music production. (Length of the 4K version: 115′ min.)
Khatia Buniatishvili – Mind in the Wilderness
Khatia Buniatishvili’s playing has been described as having ‘an aura of elegant solitude and even melancholy. It’s a perfect characterization of the pianist with such a wide palette of expression. Khatia Buniatishvili commands a natural musicality. ‘Force of nature’, ‘Spiritedness’, or ‘Infinite freedom’ are frequently mentioned attributes on her interpretation. Buniatishvili’s artistic approach to making music is undoubtedly associated with the Romantic tradition, always maintaining a fine balance between unhinged wildness and lyrical introspection. The repertoire comprises cheerful moments, melancholic passages and nocturne-like episodes: virtuously brought to life throughout a concert experience with a great quality of intimacy and generous ardour. —- Works by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Kancheli, Brahms, Ravel, Grieg, Händel, Liszt, Dvorák, Buniatishvili, Pärt, Ligeti.