Argerich plays Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G

Right from her first acclaimed Deutsche Grammophon recording of the work with Claudio Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker, Ravel’s brilliant jazz-inspired Piano Concerto in G has been a staple of Martha Argerich’s repertoire: a work whose scintillating rhythms, sparkling passage-work and melodic inspiration seem tailor made to the legendary Argentinian pianist’s remarkable gifts. And that fact is clear to see and hear in this thrilling performance filmed in the Alte Oper in Frankfurt in September 1990, in which Argerich is joined by the Orchestre National de France and conductor Charles Dutoit.

The Odeonsplatz Concert: Viotti & Wang

The Odeonsplatz is one of the most beautiful places in Munich. The surrounding historic buildings distinguish this location as an open-air arena for about 8,000 spectators. The square is named after a popular concert hall, the Odeon, which was built by Ludwig I of Bavaria in the early 19th century. “Klassik am Odeonsplatz” is a summer highlight in the musical life of the Bavarian capital. Yuja Wang shines in Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, furthermore Lorenzo Viotti conducts popular works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Chabrier, and Ravel. PROGRAM Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol; Chabrier: Espana; Ravel: Bolero

The Christmas Tree Concert – Martha Argerich & Daniel Barenboim

Long-time artistic partners and close friends Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim bring their extraordinary artistry to the Pierre Boulez Saal in a piano duo recital, which features Bizet’s charming “Jeux d’enfants” alongside Ravel’s work for four hands “Ma Mère l’Oye” and Liszt’s rarely heard “Weihnachtsbaum suite”, an arrangement of Christmas carols written for his granddaughter. When Argerich and Barenboim invite the children in the audience to sit on the floor around the piano for their performance of Weihnachtsbaum, it is in the spirit of Christmas, when families come together, and reminiscent of the work’s premiere: First performed in a Rome hotel room on Christmas Day 1881 by Liszt’s granddaughter Daniela, the suite of 12 pieces brought the composer a family reunion with his beloved daughter and granddaughter.

Hélène Grimaud – “Woodlands and beyond…”

Together with her creative and life partner, photographer Mat Hennek, French star pianist Helene Grimaud comes up with a multimedia concert project at the Grand Hall of Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie. Grimaud’s virtuoso piano performance is accompanied by Hennek’s highly praised photo series Woodlands, which depicts genuine portraits of trees, the results of numerous hikes through various forests in Europe and the USA. With works by romantic and impressionist composers, such as Luciano Berio, Nitin Sawhney, Toru Takemitsu, Franz Liszt and Claude Debussy, Grimaud leads her audience into the enchanting world of those various Woodlands and even beyond … “Grimaud is completely at ease, showing flawless clarity in her interpretations” (Die Welt).

Simon Rattle conducts Poulenc, Koechlin, Kurtág and Ravel

What all the works in this concert have in common is an unmistakable French freedom of form and sound, whether in Poulenc’s twelve-part vocal work or the large-scale but always transparent, almost pointillist orchestral compositions. There are no rules to be followed, but rather a freedom of expression that only results from the “uncertainty of the moment”. The critics are delighted: “an arresting evening” (Financal Times) PROGRAM Francis Poulenc: Figure humaine; Charles Koechlin: Les Bandar-log; György Kurtág: Petite Musique solennelle en hommage à Pierre Boulez 90; Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé

The Odeonsplatz Concert – “Spanish Night”

The ballet music “El sombrero de tres picos” by Spain’s Manuel de Falla, with its three dances that characterize three Spanish regions, opened the lively proceedings in the open air. It was complemented by the Iberian influences in the other works written by composers outside Spain, such as Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto (performed by star violinist Julia Fischer), that shows clear signs of Spanish influence in the rhythm and melody. The musicians rounded off this Spanish night in Munich with Claude Debussy’s homage to Spain, “Ibéria”, and Maurice Ravel’s “Alborada del gracioso”.

Ravel, String Quartet in F major (Mozartwoche 2000)

The Hagen Quartet, consisting of the siblings Lukas, Veronika and Clemens Hagen along with the violinist Rainer Schmidt, attracted great attention and scored impressive successes while its members were still students at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Their international career began with their appearance at the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival in 1981. The quartet is now internationally known for its inspired performances, especially of works by Mozart. The Hagen Quartet performs Maurice Ravel’s F-major String Quartet with otherworldly sensuality while keeping it touchingly of this world.

Ravel, Daphnis and Chloé

Commanding the podium with his slender figure, theatrical shock of hair and penetrating blue eyes, Herbert von Karajan projected the hieratic image of the conductor as officiant of some quasi-mystic rite. And anyone who ever saw him conduct live or on his many audiovisual recordings will agree that in his performances, music did indeed become a religion and Karajan its high-priest. Karajan (1908-1989) embodied classical music in the general consciousness as an epoch-making conductor, media star, opera producer, festival director and festival founder. But in spite of his Promethean and widely varied activities, he remained a superb conductor, with a grasp of the standard orchestral and operatic repertory from Mozart to Schoenberg that was unsurpassed among his peers.