The Wiener Symphoniker celebrate their anniversary at the Wiener Musikverein, the very place where their inaugural concert took place 125 years ago. The concert looks back to the orchestra’s very first program in 1900 with Wagner’s rarely performed Faust Overture. It also celebrates two landmark premieres: In Alban Berg’s Seven Early Songs, “the orchestra provided Hanna-Elisabeth Müller with a soundscape reminiscent of an Art Nouveau painting” (Kurier); Anna Vinnitskaya’s performance of Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand was “gripping and full of energy” (Der Standard) The evening concludes with Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony, performed an extraordinary 282 times over the orchestra’s 125-year history. PROGRAM Wagner: Faust Overture; Berg: Sieben Frühe Lieder (Seven Early Songs); Ravel: Piano Concerto for the Left Hand; Mozart: Symphony No. 41
Fazil Say at Mozartwoche
The singular pianist Fazil Say centers this recital during Salzburg’s Mozart Week around Bach’s monumental Goldberg Variations. Although the late Bach is cornerstone of piano music and a milestone for many pianists, Say’s unique performance manages to make even this well-known and often played work a journey of discovery for the audience: “Time and again, the listener has the sudden impression that Fazil Say has just joyfully discovered something completely new in the piece and is letting everyone share in it
with his smiling gaze” (Opera Online). Say follows up the Goldberg Variations wit Mozart’s Fantasy No. 3 and his own piano sonata “Yeni hayat” (New Life), which he composed in 2021 during the pandemic. PROGRAM Bach: Goldberg Variations; Mozart: Fantasy No. 3, K. 397, Piano Sonata No. 11; Say: Piano Sonata “Yeni hayat”
Mozartwoche 2025: Gonzales-Monjas, Gabriela Montero & Lauren Snouffer
“With great momentum and a sense of drama” (Die Presse), this Mozart Week opening concert leaves nothing to be desired. González-Monjas “coaxed boundless energy out of the orchestra” (SN). Soprano Lauren Snouffer dazzled with Haydn and pianist Gabriela Montero offered a “fiery performance” (Das Opernmagazin) of Mozart’s piano concerto KV 466: “Montero (…) led the audience into romantic sound worlds, while in the encore she improvised on Cherubino’s “Voi sapete” and ended with Bach “à la Stokowski” (Salzburger Nachrichten).
The Vienna Christmas Concert at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
From traditional Christmas carols to John Williams soundtracks – the Vienna Christmas Concert in Vienna’s grand St. Stephen’s cathedral is sure to put anybody in a festive mood! This edition features French conductor Stéphane Denève at the helm of the Wiener Symphoniker and the Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, presenting a programme that spans the gamut of festive music, including Mozart’s Laudate Dominum with soprano Rosa Feola, to Saint- Saëns’ Ave Maria with mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey, pieces from Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel and chorus hits from the beloved Christmas film Home Alone
Yuja Wang & Mahler Chamber Orchestra
“Virtuosic sparks” (klassik.com) As Artistic Partner of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, piano virtuoso Yuja Wang not only dazzles at the grand piano, but also gives her conducting debut. After an amuse-bouche of Mozart’s “precisely articulated and dynamically shaded” Serenade in E flat major, Wang takes the stage with Stravinsky’s Concerto for piano and wind orchestra and concludes the concert with a striking rendition of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue: “With dreamlike chord accuracy and flawlessly rapid repetitions, she presents the rhythmic finesse of Gershwin’s music and demonstrates an unerring sense of jazzy impetus” (klassik.com). Mozart: Serenade for wind instruments, K. 375; Stravinsky: Concerto for piano and wind instruments; Dvorak: Serenade for wind instruments, cello and double bass in D minor, Op. 44; Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (arr. Ferde Grofé); Marquez: Danzón No. 2 (arr. Gómez-Tagle)
Salzburg Festival 2023: Daniil Trifonov
Grammy Award-winning pianist Daniil Trifonov has made a spectac ular ascent of the classical music world. Combining consummate technique with rare sensitivity and depth, his performances are a perpetual source of awe. “He has everything and more, […] tender ness and also the demonic element. I never heard anything like that,” marveled pianist Martha Argerich. In this Salzburg recital, the “keyboard magician” (Salzburger Nachrichten) spans the spectrum between classical and early modern. Works from Mozart, Schumann and Tchaikovsky to Skriabin, Ravel and Rachmaninoff are performed – a “witch’s work of pianistic virtuosity”. (Standard)
Vienna Boys Choir – 525th Anniversary Concert
Boys have been singing at Vienna’s “Hofburgkapelle” since 1296. In 1498, the future Emperor Maximilian I moved his court and court music from various residences to Vienna. In doing so, he had laid the foundation for the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle and eventually also for the Wiener Sängerknaben (The Vienna Boys Choir). In this festive jubilee concert at Vienna’s Musikverein celebrating the 525th anniversary of the choir, the Wiener Sängerknaben and all choirs associated to it, the Chorus Primus, the Wiener Chormädchen, the Chorus Juventus and the “alumni” forming the Chorus Viennensis, are singing works that are all especially related to the choir – by Ludwig Senfl and Josquin Desprez, the Strauss dynasty or also by Mozart, Haydn and Bruckner, some of them recorded for the very first time.
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)
Grafenegg: Midsummer Night’s Gala 2022
“A nonchalant Erwin Schrott (baritone), a stormy Marlies Petersen (soprano) and a stunning Selina Ott, who does somersaults with her trumpet. Conclusion: A summer night dance over the rainbow! ” (Niederösterreichische Nachrichten) A splendid start to the open air season, full of pathos and tender whispers: every year the Midsummer Night’s Gala in Grafenegg strikes the most beautiful notes of the opera and concert repertoire. As the sun slowly descends behind the castle, the colourful sound of the Tonkunstler Orchestra ascends from the Wolkenturm, captivating listeners with its commitment and the best soloists from all over the world. In 2022, two important voices will be heard with the German soprano Marlis Peterson, who has gained international attention with her creative power, and the Uruguayan-Spanish bassbaritone Erwin Schrott, who will enchant listeners with his rich tone. These two international stars are joined by the young trumpet virtuoso Selina Ott, who is on the verge of conquering the world’s great concert halls.
András Schiff in Eisenstadt
András Schiff ranks among the most successful pianists of our time. His repertoire focuses on works by Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann and Bartok. Schiff has worked with the most of the major international orchestras and conductors, but nowadays performs mainly as a soloist and conductor. He has been awarded numerous international prizes. In the beautiful Haydnsaal of Esterházy Palace, he plays virtuoso works by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert. PROGRAM Bach : Capriccio sopra la lontananza del fratello dilettissimo, English Suite No. 3; Mozart: Piano Sonata K. 570 ; Haydn: Piano Sonata in G minor; Beethoven: Piano Sonata, Op. 81a “Les Adieux” ; Schubert : Hungarian Melody, D. 817