For years, Anne-Sophie Mutter has been performing together with various scholarship students of her foundation – in order to familiarize them with the life of a professional musician and to introduce them to a broader audience. In spring 2011 she also launched the project Mutter’s Virtuosi: This ensemble under the musical direction of the violinist consists of current and former scholarship holders of the of the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation as well as several other young musicians. This concert at Vienna’s Musikverein includes works by J. S. Bach, his Violin Concerto No. 1 and the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Vivaldi’s concert for three violins in F major, the Violin Concerto in A major by Joseph Bologne as well as the Nonet by André Previn, a commission for Mutter’s Virtuosi.
Salzburg Festival 2023: Nelsons conducts Berg, Bach and Mahler
In this concert, the Wiener Philharmoniker under the baton of Andris Nelsons are focusing on a “heavenly” pairing of works: Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto, entitled “To the Memory of an Angel” is combined with Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, in the last movement of which the poem “Das himmlische Leben” (Heavenly Life) is set to music. With this performance, young German-American violinist August Hadelich gave his debut at the Salzburg Festival and thrilled the press: “The fabulous Augustin Hadelich filled the difficult solo part with emotion and fragility, his performance was sensitive and yet glowing.” (Die Presse) With Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, Andris Nelsons performs “a Mahler miracle of quiet tones” (Volksblatt) – together with German soprano Christiane Karg (“subtle and with beautifully coloured soprano”, Kurier) as the soloist of the finale of the symphony. The concert is part of the Mahler cycle of the Wiener Philharmoniker and Andris Nelsons.
Blomstedt conducts Brahms, Bach & Nielsen
“Leonidas Kavakos, together with the Philharmoniker, makes this beautiful work a true celebration.” (klassik-begeistert.de) Herbert Blomstedt made his debut with the Vienna Philharmonic late in life, only in 2011, at the age of 83. But since then he has been a regular guest and, since 2019, even an honorary member of the orchestra. In this concert he presents a work from his Scandinavian homeland: Carl Nielsen’s Fifth Symphony. “Carl Nielsen’s music breathes a special, unfathomable mood”, says Blomstedt. “It is full of Danish humour: very serious and at the same time very comic and yet sublime.” As a counterpoint to Nielsen’s exciting experimentation, Greek star violinist Leonidas Kavakos interprets Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto, one of the most beloved and frequently performed works in the violin concerto repertoire.
Salzburg Festival 2021: Thomas Zehetmair plays Bach
In the Great Hall of the Mozarteum, the Austrian violinist creates one of the most impressive concert dates of the Salzburg Festival 2021 with his solo concert. Zehetmair performs Johann Sebastian Bach’s six-part composition in a very profound way, making the epochal work with its many levels also a very personal, artistic statement. This makes the concert an overwhelming experience of over two hours. “A Zen master makes Bach shine. Thomas Zehetmair handles the work for solo violin uncompromisingly well.” (Salzburger Nachrichten) PROGRAM Bach: The complete Sonatas and Partitas
BBC Proms 2018: András Schiff – The Well-Tempered Clavier (Part II)
Often heralded as one of the finest Bach interpreters today, Sir András Schiff embarks on Book II of Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier at the prestigious BBC Proms – a supreme technical challenge for any performer and an astonishing experience for every listener, especially when they are played with the mastery and “gracious lucidity” (ArtsDesk) of Sir András Schiff. Schiff, “travelling deeper into the inexplicable mysteries of Bach’s music” (Observer), provides “masterly interpretations” (Bachtrack). His recital of the first volume at the BBC Proms was “one of those unforgettable revelations” (Observer).
BBC Proms 2017: András Schiff – The Well-Tempered Clavier (Part I)
Bach specialist Sir András Schiff returns to the BBC Proms in a Piano recital performing Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier (Part I). Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier represents one of Western music’s greatest achievements. Described as the ‘Old Testament’ of the keyboard repertoire, it represents a wealth of musical invention, ingenuity and delight. A supreme technical challenge for any performer, they also offer an astonishing experience for every listener – especially when they are played with the mastery and sensitivity of András Schiff. His recital of the first volume at the BBC Proms is “one of those unforgettable revelations” (Observer).
András Schiff – The Goldberg Variations
Sir Andras Schiff brings Bach’s monumental work for solo keyboard to the Royal Albert Hall and delivers a spellbinding account of the Goldberg Variations. “Schiff’s playing was buoyant and dazzling in a performance that underlined the cogency and integrity of his approach to this monumental work” stated The Guardian. Alone at the piano in the vastness of the Royal Albert Hall was Andras Schiff, who made no concessions to the capacity crowd: this was all about Bach’s astonishing variations. Schiff’s “command and awareness of the smaller-scale architectures were just as impressive as his mastery of the whole 30-variation span“ wrote the Telegraph.
Raphaël Pichon conducts Handel & Bach
Bach and Handel, opera and oratorio, and extreme affects such as frenzy and deep suffering – Raphaël Pichon and his Ensemble Pygmalion at the Philharmonie de Paris. The phenomenal French coloratura soprano Sabine Devieilhe makes the colorful program shine as a vivid Baroque panorama. PROGRAM Handel: Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno: “Un pensiero nemico di pace”, Giulio Cesare in Egitto: “Che sento? O dio!…Se pietà”; Bach: Cantatas: Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal, BWV 146: Sinfonia, Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, BWV 199, “Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe”, BWV 156: Sinfonia, “Geist und Seele wird verwirret”, BWV 35: Concerto, “Ich habe genug”, BWV 82 (excerpts)
Hengelbrock conducts Bach and Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Thomas Hengelbrock and the Orchestre de Paris teamed up to perform one of the most brilliant works of European church music: J.S. Bach’s Magnificat. This opus is a musical setting of the biblical canticle Magnificat, which is one of the most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn, frequently sung liturgically in Christian church services. Following this, the musicians draw the attention of the audience to the content and structural parallels between Bach and Felix Mendelssohn, who has rendered outstanding services to the revivification of the interest in music of J.S. Bach. The musicians delight the audience with the Psalm 42 and the Christmas Cantata, two compositions full of religious fervor.
Raphaël Pichon conducts Bach’s Mass in B Minor
Young French conductor Raphaël Pichon is the founder of Pygmalion, one of today’s most fascinating and ambitious ensembles for Early Music. Hailed by critics as “currently the best conductor for Bach” (Süddeutsche), Pichon performs an absolutely breathtaking Mass in B Minor in the beautiful Royal Chapel of Versailles.