From the Staatsoper Stuttgart 1983 Produced and designed by Achim Freyer, Satyagraha is conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. Glass’s opera evokes impressions of Gandhi’s years in South Africa and his development of the philosophy of satyagraha (a Sanskrit word meaning ‘love/strength’) as a political and revolutionary tool. The text is drawn from the great Hindu spiritual treatise, the Bhagavad Gita, and sung in the original Sanskrit – a sacred language which is no longer spoken. This device enhances the ceremonial quality of the work and complements the ritual atmosphere built up by Glass’s hypnotic music.
Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny
It took 68 years for [Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt] Mahagonny to come to the Salzburg Festival, but it arrived in style. In Peter Zadek’s bold 1998 production the denizens of Brecht and Weill’s sin city crowd the vast stage of the Grosses Festspielhaus, and conductor Dennis Russell Davies brings an uncompromising zest and grit to the playing of the Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien. But Weill was always adamant that Mahagonny is an “epic opera”, and Salzburg never stints on that score. Catherine Malfitano and Jerry Hadley head a cast that stars Dame Gywyneth Jones as Widow Begbick: performances exactly as outsized, and as gripping, as Weill demanded.
Mozartwoche 2000
Mozart, Piano Concerto No.27 in B flat major, K.595 (Mozartwoche 2000)
Making his first appearance at the head of the Camerata academica Salzburg at the Mozartwoche 2000 was American conductor Dennis Russell Davies. Born in Ohio in 1944, he has guested as opera conductor at many of the most prestigious theaters of the world. In 1980 he was appointed General Music Director of the Stuttgart State Opera, and from 1987 to 1995 he fulfilled the same function in Bonn. He was then principal conductor of the Stuttgart Kammerorchester and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. He became General Music Director in Linz in fall 2002. The former “Camerata academica Salzburg” was renamed simply “Camerata Salzburg” in 2001. It was founded in 1951 by Bernhard Paumgartner, who was its head and mentor for many years. From 1978 to 1997 its artistic director was Sándor Végh and in 1997 Roger Norrington was appointed principal conductor of the ensemble. The Camerata Salzburg can be heard every year at the Salzburg Mozartwoche and Salzburg Festival. The teaming of Dennis Russell Davies and the Camerata academica was a total success: “The conductor, in spite of his cool exterior, acted anything but coolly, and the frisky ensemble created an ideal pairing, a kind of ‘Dream Team'”, wrote a Salzburg critic. Soloist Ursula Oppens was born in New York and studied at the Juilliard School of Music. After winning many competitions, she made her debut at Carnegie Hall in 1969. She has long been a sought-after soloist and recitalist.
Schnittke, Moz-Art à la Haydn (Mozartwoche 2000)
Alfred Schnittke’s composition for two solo violins, two small string orchestras, double bass and conductor (1977) was recorded with the Camerata academica Salzburg under the direction of Dennis Russell Davies at the Mozarteum Salzburg on 29 January 2000. The work is dedicated to Tatyana Grindenko and Gidon Kremer and was given its world premiere in Tbilissi in 1983. The first performance in Western Europe took place at the Lockenhaus Festival in 1984 with Gidon Kremer. Thanks to its spirited atmosphere, this piece is one of Schnittke’s most popular works. Making his first appearance at the head of the Camerata academica Salzburg at the Mozartwoche 2000 was American conductor Dennis Russell Davies. Born in Ohio in 1944, he has guested as opera conductor at many of the most prestigious theaters of the world. In 1980 he was appointed General Music Director of the Stuttgart State Opera, and from 1987 to 1995 he fulfilled the same function in Bonn. He was then principal conductor of the Stuttgart Kammerorchester and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. He became General Music Director in Linz in fall 2002. The former “Camerata academica Salzburg” was renamed simply “Camerata Salzburg” in 2001. It was founded in 1951 by Bernhard Paumgartner, who was its head and mentor for many years. From 1978 to 1997 its artistic director was Sándor Végh and in 1997 Roger Norrington was appointed principal conductor of the ensemble. The Camerata Salzburg can be heard every year at the Salzburg Mozartwoche and Salzburg Festival. The teaming of Dennis Russell Davies and the Camerata academica was a total success: “The conductor, in spite of his cool exterior, acted anything but coolly, and the frisky ensemble created an ideal pairing, a kind of ‘Dream Team'”, wrote a Salzburg critic.
Haydn, Symphony in G minor, Hob.I:83 “La Poule” (Mozartwoche 2000)
Making his first appearance at the head of the Camerata academica Salzburg at the Mozartwoche 2000 was American conductor Dennis Russell Davies. Born in Ohio in 1944, he has guested as opera conductor at many of the most prestigious theaters of the world. In 1980 he was appointed General Music Director of the Stuttgart State Opera, and from 1987 to 1995 he fulfilled the same function in Bonn. He was then principal conductor of the Stuttgart Kammerorchester and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. He became General Music Director in Linz in fall 2002. The former “Camerata academica Salzburg” was renamed simply “Camerata Salzburg” in 2001. It was founded in 1951 by Bernhard Paumgartner, who was its head and mentor for many years. From 1978 to 1997 its artistic director was Sándor Végh and in 1997 Roger Norrington was appointed principal conductor of the ensemble. The Camerata Salzburg can be heard every year at the Salzburg Mozartwoche and Salzburg Festival. The teaming of Dennis Russell Davies and the Camerata academica was a total success: “The conductor, in spite of his cool exterior, acted anything but coolly, and the frisky ensemble created an ideal pairing, a kind of ‘Dream Team'”, wrote a Salzburg critic.
Mozart, Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K.546 (Mozartwoche 2000)
Making his first appearance at the head of the Camerata academica Salzburg at the Mozartwoche 2000 was American conductor Dennis Russell Davies. Born in Ohio in 1944, he has guested as opera conductor at many of the most prestigious theaters of the world. In 1980 he was appointed General Music Director of the Stuttgart State Opera, and from 1987 to 1995 he fulfilled the same function in Bonn. He was then principal conductor of the Stuttgart Kammerorchester and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. He became General Music Director in Linz in fall 2002. The former “Camerata academica Salzburg” was renamed simply “Camerata Salzburg” in 2001. It was founded in 1951 by Bernhard Paumgartner, who was its head and mentor for many years. From 1978 to 1997 its artistic director was Sándor Végh and in 1997 Roger Norrington was appointed principal conductor of the ensemble. The Camerata Salzburg can be heard every year at the Salzburg Mozartwoche and Salzburg Festival. The teaming of Dennis Russell Davies and the Camerata academica was a total success: “The conductor, in spite of his cool exterior, acted anything but coolly, and the frisky ensemble created an ideal pairing, a kind of ‘Dream Team'”, wrote a Salzburg critic.