Recorded live at the Berlin “Philharmonie” on New Year’s Eve 1977, this rousing interpretation of Beethoven’s most popular symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan weaves a rich tapestry of emotional contrasts. The Ninth is an affirmation of optimism and beauty, written when Beethoven was almost completely deaf. The final movement is considered by many to be the composer’s crowning glory. It had been Beethoven’s lifelong dream to set Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” to music, for the poem put into words Beethoven’s most impassioned desire: peace and brotherhood in the world. Giving eloquent voice to this plea are the world-renowned soloists Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Agnes Baltsa, René Kollo and José van Dam.
Beethoven, Symphony No.9 in D minor, op.125 “Choral”
When, in the mid 1960s, Herbert von Karajan decided to record on film all nine Beethoven symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic, he began with the “Fifth” and asked the famous French movie director Henri-Georges Clouzot (Quai des Orfèvres) to direct. Recognizing in the music-loving director a kindred soul and master of the symbolic image, Karajan found an inspired partner. In another of Karajan’s first efforts, he asked six directors to “stage” one movement each of a Beethoven symphony. For a full week, the directors had the Berlin Philharmonic and Herbert von Karajan – all in full dress – at their disposal, with all the 35mm film, cameras, lighting and technical assistance they needed. Karajan’s most controversial production was Hugo Niebeling’s highly personal interpretation of the “Pastorale”, with its abstract shots of instruments, rapid rhythms, fade-ins and symbolically arranged colors.
Wiener Philharmoniker: Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducts Beethoven & Strauss
Yannick Nézet-Séguin gives his successful debut at the renowned, highly exclusive subscription concerts of the Wiener Philharmoniker. Joining him is piano legend Yefim Bronfman, who lives up to his reputation: “It was gratifying to hear how, in Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto, a relaxed, silky-smooth beauty of sound repeatedly gave way to wiry accents of tension” (Der Standard). Bronfman proved an “ideal partner” (Kronenzeitung) for Nézet-Séguin and the Philharmoniker, who were “entirely in harmony with the soloist” (Die Presse). In the second half of the concert, “Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben was given a refreshingly invigorating shake-up” (Der Standard). Program: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3; Strauss: Ein Heldenleben; Debussy: Images II, III. Poissons d’or
Honeck conducts Beethoven & Schmidt
Young Spanish violinist María Dueñas is currently conquering the concert stages of the world and performing with the most renowned orchestras and conductors of our time. Her technical skills, artistic maturity and interpretations full of character come together in her performances. Winner of several violin competitions, she was selected by BBC Radio 3 as one of the New Generation Artists 2021-23. In this concert with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra conducted by Manfred Honeck, she presents Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with her own cadenzas. “Her mixture of tautness and elasticity, verve and sensitivity was as enchanting as the focused, luminous tone of her violin” (Der Standard). The concert is rounded off with Franz Schmidt’s (1874–1939) Fourth Symphony.
Beethoven – The complete Sonatas for Piano
Beethoven’s opus of 32 piano sonatas, known as “the New Testament of piano music”, is a landmark in piano literature. Spanning Beethoven’s entire life, the sonatas reflect his whole development as a human being and a musician, moving from one century into the next, from one epoch in music in to another. Now, for the first time in its history the complete cycle was performed at the Salzburg Festival. For this challenge the Festival asked no less than the world-renowned and influential Beethoven expert and pianist Rudolf Buchbinder. Buchbinder’s performance is “that of a real master, effortless changing between lightning fast, technically challenging moments and tender lyrical passages. Where others can pride themselves in getting through without any accidents, Buchbinder is a poet, precise in every arpeggio touching in every keystroke” (Kurier).
Looking for Beethoven – On the Paths of the Beethoven String Quartets
What seems to be the predominant impulse driving this music,” explains viola player Krzysztof Chorzelski of the Belcea Quartet, “is man’s yearning for freedom, the unquenchable desire to expand his limits and to learn the truth about himself in this process Beethoven inspires us as performers to take up this challenge.” The Belcea Quartet’s response to this challenge took place in the Vienna Konzerthaus. The ensemble embarked on the complete cycle of Beethoven string quartets, playing the whole program within twelve days, each concert featuring one work from the early, middle and late quartets.
Beethoven – The Complete String Quartets
“What seems to be the predominant impulse driving this music,” explains viola player Krzysztof Chorzelski of the Belcea Quartet, “is man’s yearning for freedom, the unquenchable desire to expand his limits and to learn the truth about himself in this process. Beethoven inspires us as performers to take up this challenge.” The Belcea Quartet’s response to this challenge took place in the Vienna Konzerthaus in May 2012. The ensemble embarked on the complete cycle of Beethoven string quartets, playing the whole program within twelve days, each concert featuring one work each from the early, middle and late quartets. Described as “a world-class ensemble” in The Guardian, this quartet brings a freshness to their interpretation of Beethoven’s string quartets, and draws forth a great range of colours, from sweetness to strength, from solemnity to impetuous force, while the cameras capture with great clarity the changing emotions of the players. Also available: DOCUMENTARY “On the Paths of the Beethoven String Quartets”. Directed by Jean Claude Mocik. Length approx. 52′.
Beethoven – The Complete Violin Sonatas
Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Sonatas for Piano and Violin” were almost all composed in a relatively quick succession between 1797 and 1803, in Beethoven’s early days, and are now part of the classic repertoire of the violin literature. Leonidas Kavakos’s and Enrico Pace’s interpretation of the complete Sonata Cycle set new standards, was nominated for the Grammy Award and was celebrated by the press: “Together these two make magic” (Buffalo News), “an ideally attuned, technically perfect duo” (Die
Presse).
BEETHOVEN 9 – Making van Beethoven
A one-of-a-kind musical event is in the making! Christian Thielemann, one of the most recognized conductors of our time, joins forces with the prestigious Wiener Philharmoniker and UNITEL, the world’s leading audiovisual production company for classical music, in a monumental project: BEETHOVEN 9, the recording of all nine symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven for TV, DVD and New Media: the “Beethoven cycle of the 21st century”! Using the newest technology of our century, UNITEL and Austrian Television (ORF) produce this “super-cycle” in the Golden Hall of Vienna’s Musikverein in HD and 5.0 Surround Sound. BEETHOVEN 9 kicked off in December 2008 with the recording of the First and Second Symphonies. At the rate of two recordings per year, the cycle will be completed by April 2010. The genesis and unfolding of this project will be accompanied by a documentary filmed in HD. Between 2010 and 2013 the orchestra will crown the venture with special event performances of the complete cycle in major cities around the world. These concert cycles will rank among the musical highlights of these years. They will be accompanied by the recordings, which will be released prior to the start of the world tour, when international attention is at its peak. Music lovers can enjoy Beethoven’s symphonies either live in the host cities or on television, Internet or DVD. Live transmission from the Golden Hall is possible already during the recording stage. BEETHOVEN 9 brings to a new climax the longstanding collaboration between Thielemann, who enjoys a sterling reputation as an interpreter of Beethoven and the German Romantics, and the Wiener Philharmoniker, which has been cultivating the music of Beethoven since its founding nearly 170 years ago and is one of the few great orchestras to have preserved its unique sound. UNITEL CLASSICA can look back on more than 40 years of collaboration with the Wiener Philharmoniker and on its pioneering cycles of Beethoven’s symphonic works with Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein.
Salzburg Festival: Opening Concert 2010
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Salzburg’s Grosses Festspielhaus, the 2010 Salzburg Festival put together a truly one-of-a-kind program for the Wiener Philharmoniker’s traditional opening concert. Conducted by Daniel Barenboim, the concert opens with Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto, whose solo part is also played by the conductor. This is followed by the scintillating “Notations” by Pierre Boulez, who celebrated his 85th birthday in 2010. Concluding the concert is Anton Bruckner’s mighty “Te Deum” featuring soloists Dorothea Röschmann, El?na Garan?a, Klaus Florian Vogt and René Pape.