On the occasion of the 450th anniversary of this genius’ birth, an international cast of soloists together with members of the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists under the baton of their artistic director Sir John Eliot Gardiner commemorate the Italian composer in a series of semi-staged performances at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Gardiner, one of the most versatile conductors of our time, is certainly acknowledged as a key figure in the early music revival of the past five decades. His lifelong examination of Monteverdi’s work makes him uniquely qualified to celebrate the composer in all his glory with the semi-staged opera trilogy L’Orfeo, Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria and L’incoronazione di Poppea. “Anyone who has had trouble to access Montiverdi’s music so far, should listen to this trilogy. A whole world will open up for him or her.” (FAZ)
Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria
On the occasion of the 450th anniversary of this genius’ birth, an international cast of soloists together with members of the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists under the baton of their artistic director Sir John Eliot Gardiner commemorate the Italian composer in a series of semi-staged performances at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Gardiner, one of the most versatile conductors of our time, is certainly acknowledged as a key figure in the early music revival of the past five decades. His lifelong examination of Monteverdi’s work makes him uniquely qualified to celebrate the composer in all his glory with the semi-staged opera trilogy L’Orfeo, Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria and L’incoronazione di Poppea. “Anyone who has had trouble to access Montiverdi’s music so far, should listen to this trilogy. A whole world will open up for him or her.” (FAZ)
L’incoronazione di Poppea
On the occasion of the 450th anniversary of this genius’ birth, an international cast of soloists together with members of the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists under the baton of their artistic director Sir John Eliot Gardiner commemorate the Italian composer in a series of semi-staged performances at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Gardiner, one of the most versatile conductors of our time, is certainly acknowledged as a key figure in the early music revival of the past five decades. His lifelong examination of Monteverdi’s work makes him uniquely qualified to celebrate the composer in all his glory with the semi-staged opera trilogy L’Orfeo, Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria and L’incoronazione di Poppea. “Anyone who has had trouble to access Montiverdi’s music so far, should listen to this trilogy. A whole world will open up for him or her.” (FAZ)
RCO: Gardiner conducts Brahms Symphony No. 2
Who was Johannes Brahms? In a new cycle of four concerts, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, is investigating Brahms’s œuvre through the lens of the four symphonies performed over two seasons and accompanied by other works by the composer. The Second Symphony is juxtaposed with the First Piano Concerto with soloist Stephen Hough. Under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Brahms is instilled with a new radiance and vitality. PROGRAM Brahms: Symphony No. 2, Piano Concerto No. 1
St John Passion
After performances in recent years of Bach’s liturgical cantatas and St Matthew Passion, John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi ensembles turn to the composer’s other great meditation on the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus. Martin Luther described the Gospel of John as ‘unique in loveliness and, in truth, the principal Gospel, far superior to the other three and much to be preferred’; Bach responded to the text with music which is by turns evocative, stirring, exultant and profoundly moving – music that holds our attention from beginning to end. The Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists are joined by a dynamic cast of exciting soloists to bring the story of the passion to life. “This is a St John Passion that no music lover should miss.” The Times