In Geneva, the city where she spent most of her life, Martha Argerich invites her lifelong music partner, the cellist Mischa Maisky, to play chamber music works by Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms and Chopin. Between each piece, the pianist opens up to her daughter Annie Dutoit, in an intimate conversation that reveals personal insights as well as musical ones
Beethoven Mass In C Major
Together with the excellent choir and a shining soloist quartet, Omer Meir Wellber reveals the immense expressiveness and novelty of this undeservedly neglected composition by the jubilarian Beethoven. lla Milch-Sheriff’s monodrama “The Eternal Stranger” is followed ‘attacca’ by Beethoven’s Mass in C major.
The Berlin Concert – Anne-Sophie Mutter & Lang Lang
Celebrating 120 Years of Deutsche Grammophon, The Berlin Concert features performances from DG’s unbeatable roster of artists: Anne-Sophie Mutter, considered one of the greatest violinists of all time and Lang Lang, pioneering pianist and global cultural icon, accompanied by the Staatskapelle Berlin under the direction of Manfred Honeck. Works by W.A. Mozart, L.v. Beethoven and a german premiere of John Williams’ “Markings” are on the program of this highly anticipated concert in Berlin´s famous Philharmonie. PROGRAM L.v. Beethoven: Overture to Fidelio, op. 72; Leonore Overture No. 3, op. 72b, Romance in F for violin and orchestra, op. 50; W.A. Mozart: Piano Concerto in C minor, KV 491; John Williams: Markings for violin, string orchestra and harp
80 Years Israel Philharmonic Orchestra – The Jubilee Concert
Over the past 47 years, Zubin Metha has given more than 3000 concerts with “his” Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, individually selecting each musician himself. “We are one great family. One can both see and hear that,” explains Metha on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the IPO. Founded in 1936 by Bronislaw Huberman as the Palestine Symphony Orchestra, ist inaugural concert on 26 December was conducted by Arturo Toscanini. 80 years later on the very same day, Zubin Mehta, the orchestra’s musical director for life, conducted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in a veritable Jubilee Concert with an all-Beethoven program. Mehta was joined by his longtime artistic friends Pinchas Zukerman, Amanda Forsyth, and Yefim Bronfman. PROGRAM Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3; Violin Concerto; Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano
Blomstedt conducts Beethoven
More than 200 years after its premiere at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, the famous trio Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen Queyras and Martin Helmchen have congenially mastered the artistic challenge of Beethoven’s gemstone. Under Herbert Blomstedt’s sensitive direction, the soloists unite chamber music intimacy together with virtuoso sophistication – and prove once again that the Triple Concerto is an unduly underestimated, much too rarely programmed masterpiece. The composer’s fifth symphony – indeed, the hit of classical music – is better known. In Leipzig, however, Blomstedt succeeds in achieving an entirely new perspective of this work. In the culmination of his three-year, intensive reenactment of Beethoven’s cosmos, the impressive sound that characterizes the Swedish grand seigneur’s conducting is heralded by transparency rather than showmanship, relevance instead of pathos, and tenderness in place of sentimentality.
Anne-Sophie Mutter, John Williams & Friends: A Celebration!
Superstar violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter celebrates her 60th birthday year with a performance she created with her friends and musical colleagues. She joins the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra along with legendary conductor and composer John Williams, longtime friend and pianist Yefim Bronfman, her protégé, cellist Pablo Ferrández, and sought-after conductor Susanna Mälkki. Anne-Sophie Mutter performs the Beethoven Triple Concerto with Yefim Bronfman and Pablo Ferrández in the first half of the evening, under the baton of Susanna Mälkki. The second half will bring Anne-Sophie Mutter together with the legendary conductor and composer John Williams for a special program featuring his compositions. This one-night-only performance is not to be missed!
Beethoven: The Last Three Piano Sonatas
Large industrial complexes, built of solid brick tell the story of industrialization of 19th century Leipzig. Where spinning wheels once rattled, chimneys smoked and thousands of workers carried out their daily work, new life has moved in over the past few years. Today, former factories are home to artists’ studios, galleries and manufactories. The term “industrial culture” is taken literally here. The Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig is one of these buildings that tell the story of time and was now the chosen location for a very special production: the exceptional Korean pianist Sunwook Kim played Ludwig van Beethoven’s last three Piano Sonatas op. 109-111 in an industrial setting framed by light projections that filled the brick hall. Beethoven’s last three piano sonatas occupy a very special place within his oeuvre. Completely deaf by then, the composer puts three of his most intimate and personal works on paper, which at the same time radiate optimism and point musically into the future like hardly any other works.
Lucerne Festival 2020: Blomstedt conducts Beethoven
In 1949, at only seven years old, Martha Argerich made her debut with Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto and the piece has accompanied her throughout her career. Naturally, Argerich has discovered new facets of this work over the decades. And she surely did so when she performed this signature piece with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and Herbert Blomstedt who gave his debut with the orchestra thanks to a very special festival edition in August 2020. Beethoven’s music plays a very important role in Blomstedt’s career and thus the concert featured another work of the composer: his Symphony No. 2. PROGRAM Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1, Symphony No. 2
Krystian Zimerman – Beethoven Piano Concertos
Krystian Zimerman and Sir Simon Rattle have reunited to record Beethoven’s Complete Piano Concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra in one marathon concert. From the youthful first to the mighty ‘Emperor’, this is a real one-off: an unprecedented meeting of great musical minds. That’s no exaggeration: the unique rapport between Zimerman and Sir Simon is based upon years of shared ideals and mutual respect. Gramophone described their partnership as “a thing of wonder”, praising their “thrilling sense of purpose”. Crucially, neither of them ever forgets that Beethoven is bigger than both of them, making this unprecedented, unrepeatable concert a worthy tribute to Beethoven at the end of this, his 250th anniversary year.
RCO: Pappano conducts Beethoven & Schumann
Igor Levit returns to the Concertgebouworkest to perform Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto under the direction of Sir Antonio Pappano. The outstanding Russian–German pianist made his Concertgebouworkest debut in April 2018. Levit’s performance was ‘self-assured and challenging’, wrote De Volkskrant of his performance of Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto. Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto ones again provides an opportunity for another exciting partnership. PROGRAM Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3; Schumann: Symphony No. 2