In this edition of the Staatskapelle Dresden’s New Year’s Eve concert, every classical music fan is sure to get their money’s worth. Exceptional pianist Igor Levit performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, perhaps the most famous of Mozart’s piano concertos. “Transparent, without the slightest scratch, he mastered his part, attentive to the orchestra. At times it seemed as if Levit was stroking the keys, only to grow into brilliant virtuosity.” (Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten) South-African soprano Golda Schultz (“a voice with an almost immeasurable range of colours, effortlessly guided and golden in bloom”, Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten), Czech mezzo-soprano Štepánka Pucálková and Ukrainian baritone Iurii Samoilov take the audience into the world of opera and operetta – from with love arias from Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro to Strauss, Offenbach, Franz Lehár and Strauss II. Conductor Tugan Sokhiev “proved himself to be a man of unerring precision and precisely differentiated orchestral work.” (Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten) “A splendid programme with splendid soloists” (Dresdner Morgenpost)
Wiener Philharmoniker: Tugan Sokhiev & Martha Argerich
“Glaring drama and bizarre comedy, lyrical poetry and gripping, vivid theatricality: Argerich demonstrated this par excellence in Prokofiev” (Der Standard). Under Tugan Sokhiev, the Wiener Philharmoniker presents two masterpieces of the early 20th century: Classical icon Martha Argerich interprets Sergei Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto with “great dexterity and fire” (Die Presse), “Thunderous cheers and bravos!” (Kronenzeitung). Igor Stravinsky’s ballet music “Petrushka” (1911 version) was transformed by Sokhiev “into a furious sound theatre” (Kurier). PROGRAM Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3; Scarlatti: Sonata, K.141; Stravinsky: Petrushka – Suite
Iolanta
“Lyrical, rich, uplifting, moving” (Die Presse) In a production that is truly “a feast for the eyes” (Salzburger Nachrichten), director Evgeny Titov sets the story of the blind princess Iolanta in a visually magnificent but mysterious flower garden. The musical performances complete this baroque painting come to life, led by Sonya Yoncheva with her “gloriously rich” (Opera Now) soprano. The orchestra under Tugan Sokhiev convices with a “sonically intense” interpretation (Kronenzeitung). “Titov’s staging received heroic performances from all concerned, led by Yoncheva who absolutely sang her heart out as Iolanta. Her top was thrilling, matched in duet by tenor Dmytro Popov, and her acting was utterly believable” (Opera Now)
Tugan Sokhiev conducts Das Lied von der Erde
Mahler composed his “Lied von der Erde” in a phase of loneliness, but still: the seven Chinese poems that he set into very personal symphonic songs also spread a message of consolation. The Münchner Philharmoniker, one of the world’s leading Mahler orchestras, Tugan Sokhiev, Ekaterina Gubanova and Andreas Schager deliver a gripping performance.
Tugan Sokhiev conducts Mahler 4
The Münchner Philharmoniker under Tugan Sokhiev and with Christiane Karg’s delicately intimate and clear soprano voice lead the audience through a rousing Mahler Fourth, drawing an arc from radiant blue skies to cracks in the firmament and from the hope of heavenly life to the end of everything earthly.