After the two famous Mahler festivals in 1920 and 1995, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam, presents a special two-season Mahler series, which includes Mahler’s ten large-scale symphonies, performed in chronological order by the world’s greatest orchestra under the direction of great conductors – all brought to life in the wonderful acoustics of the Main Hall of the Concertgebouw.
Gustav Mahler: All Symphonies – The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
After the two famous Mahler festivals in 1920 and 1995, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam is now presenting a special two-season Mahler series, which
includes ten large-scale symphonies, plus Das Lied von der Erde, performed in chronological order by the world’s greatest orchestra under the direction of great conductors – all brought to life in the wonderful acoustics of the Main Hall of the Concertgebouw.
RCO: Luisi conducts Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky
Fabio Luisi conducts two intensely romantic Russian works: Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony and Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto with master pianist Yefim Bronfman, artist in residence with the Concertgebouworkest. The soloist performing this compelling piano concerto is the star turn of the programme. Yefim Bronfman has been a popular guest with the Concertgebouworkest for twenty years, but has never before performed Rachmaninoff at Concertgebouworkest! Now at last we had the chance to hear how this connoisseur of the Russian repertoire approaches this marvellous work. PROGRAM Tchaikovsky; Symphony No. 6; Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3.
Fabio Luisi’s Farewell Concert from Zurich: Bruckner No. 7
In his nine years as the General Music Director of the Opernhaus Zürich, Fabio Luisi decisively shaped the musical tone of the house. His Verdi interpretations, his cycle of operas by Vincenzo Bellini and his forays into the symphonic-romantic repertoire are unforgettable. In June 2021, Luisi gave his farewell concert on the rostrum of the Philharmonia Zürich with an intense and memorable performance of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7. Conducting without a baton, Fabio Luisi led the orchestra in his signature style combining precision with emotion, moulding out every heraldic and delicate passage from an orchestra in top form.
Simon Boccanegra
Intrigue, family tragedies, power struggles – these words aptly describe Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Simon Boccanegra”. And the opera is somehow frighteningly topical: in this piece with only one female role, the men write history and the women are the victims. The world premiere flopped, but almost 25 years later the opera received thunderous applause at a new performance in Milan’s La Scala. Andreas Homoki has staged this second and revised version at the Zurich Opera House. Its premiere was one of the last conducted by outgoing music director Fabio Luisi and Christian Gerhaher’s much-lauded role debut as Simon Boccanegra.
Nabucco
Under the direction of Andreas Homoki, this new production features a first-class cast: Catherine Naglestad and Michael Volle debut in the roles of Abigaille and Nabucco respectively, while the German bass Georg Zeppenfeld portrays Zaccaria. Music Director Fabio Luisi conducts the Philharmonia Zürich.
Rigoletto
The live recording of Giuseppe Verdi‘s “Rigoletto” from Opernhaus Zürich presents the thrilling and dramaturgically highly precise production by stage director Tatjana Gürbaca: The chosen “Director of the Year 2013” by Opernwelt succeeded in producing a scenically reduced as well as expressively poetic production. Acclaimed by press and public alike, the scenic approach is matched by the musical expertise of Fabio Luisi: The general music director of the Opernhaus Zürich and one of the leading interpreters of Italy’s opera repertory conducts the Philharmonia Zurich and outstanding lead soloists George Petean as Rigoletto, Aleksandra Kurzak as Gilda and Saimir Pirgu as the Duke.