In the monumental project BEETHOVEN 9, Christian Thielemann, one of the most widely recognized conductors of our time, joins forces with the prestigious Wiener Philharmoniker for their first-ever highdefinition recording of all nine symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Also available:
Overture ‘Coriolan’, Op. 62 (11’ – A045005410010),
Overture ‘Egmont’, Op. 84 (11’ – A045005410011)
The most spectacular homage to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on his 250th birthday in 2006 was incontestably the presentation of all of his operas and operatic fragments at the Salzburg Festival, ‘Mozart22.’ Recorded on film, this monumental project has been preserved for posterity as a benchmark of Mozart interpretation in the early 21st century. The ‘Mozart Gala’ held at the Felsenreitschule on 30 July 2006, in the first days of the 2006 Salzburg Festival, presents a kind of microcosm of the Mozart festivities, with a selection of arias and orchestral music performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under Daniel Harding and featuring some of the top vocalists of the 2006 Salzburg Festival.
Recorded live in the presence of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City, this profoundly moving and inspiring concert is a true musical landmark. While the music ranges from the grand to the sublime, the atmosphere retains the warmth and intimacy of a “family reunion”: both the Munich Philharmonic and the boys’ chorus “Regensburger Domspatzen” are world-renowned institutions from the Pope’s native Germany and from cities closely connected with the former Cardinal Ratzinger. Among the works performed is a Sanctus from a mass written by Georg Ratzinger, the Pope’s brother and one-time director of the “Regensburger Domspatzen”. Under the direction of its distinguished young principal conductor Christian Thielemann, the Munich Philharmonic is joined by the boys’ chorus (which also sings a cappella works led by Georg Büchner) in music by Liszt, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Palestrina, Pfitzner, Verdi, Wagner and Georg Ratzinger. The musical event is rounded off with an address to the listeners and performers by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra started its season with a great Gala Concert conducted by music director Gustavo Dudamel. As special guest: star tenor Juan Diego Flórez. The programme includes popular arias by Rossini as well as famous songs by Latin-American composers. Programme: Rossini, Overture to ‘La gazza ladra’, Overture to ‘Semiramide’, ‘La Speranza piu soave’ from Semiramide, Overture to Guillaume Tell, ‘Asil ereditaire’ from Guillaume Tell; Granada (arr. Florez),’ La flor de la canela’; Mancayo,’ Huapango’; Grever (arr. Guinovart), ‘Jurame’; Gutierrez (arr. Pena), ‘Alma Ilanera’; Marquez, Danzon No. 2; Encores: Verdi, ‘La donna e mobile’ from Rigoletto; Gounod: ‘Ah, leve toi soleil’ from Romeo and Juliette.
Renée Fleming, America’s Queen of Opera, performing with the internationally acclaimed Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, in the Palaces of the Czars in Saint Petersburg. Fleming and Hvorostovsky lead the audience through Saint Petersburg performing in the Gold Ballroom of Peterhof Palace, the White Column Room and the extraordinary baroque Theater of the Yusupov Palace.
Gustavo Dudamel, just twenty-seven years old, designated music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, is acknowledged to be one of the most
important conductors of his generation. At October 2009 he will conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Disney Concert Hall. On the programme: Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No 1 in D major (“Titan”) and the world premier of the latest work by Pulitzer Prize for Music winner John Adams, “City Noir”. The Los Angeles Philharmonic is widely regarded as the most contemporary minded, forward thinking, talked about and innovative, venturesome and admired orchestra in America. Dudamel made his U.S. conducting debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl on September 13, 2005. In April 2007, during a guest conducting engagement with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dudamel was named the LAP’s next music director as of the 2009-2010 season, succeeding Esa-Pekka Salonen.
On May 5, 2011, Carnegie Hall commemorated its 120th anniversary with an all-star gala concert featuring conductor Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic and special guests: pianist Emanuel Ax, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Gil Shaham, and the four-time Tony Award-winning singer and actress Audra McDonald. The eclectic, crowd pleasing program is set to include Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, performed by Ax, Ma, and Shaham, a selection of Duke Ellington songs – including ‘Solitude,’ ‘Sophisticated Lady,’ ‘On a Turquoise Cloud,’ and ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing’ -performed by McDonald, and full performances of Antonin Dvorák’s Carnival Overture and George Gershwin’s ‘An American in Paris’.
Gala in commemoration of the 150th birthday of Peter Tchaikovsky. On the programme: Eugen Onegin: Polonaise / Sérénade mélancolique, Op. 26 / Valse scherzo, Op. 34 / Chansons francaises, Op. 65, for Voice and Piano / Sérénade, No. 1 / Rondel, No. 6 / Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 / Jeanne d’Arc (La Pucelle d’Orléans) / Adieu, forets / 1812 Overture, Op 49.
The 1993 New Year’s Eve Gala of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is dedicated to Richard Wagner. On the programme: ‘Tannhäuser’: Ouverture, Act II Aria ‘Dich teure Halle’, Act III Song to the Evening Star, ‘Lohengrin’: ‘In ferner Einsamkeit des Waldes’ (Act II),’ Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg’: Prelude to Act I, Aria ‘Was duftet doch der Flieder (Act II), ‘Die Walküre’: ‘Der Männer Sippe’ (Act I), The Ride of the Valkyries (Act III).
One of Horowitz’s final performances, recorded at the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, Vienna/Austria in May 1987 including: Mozart, Rondo K.485, Piano Sonata No.13 K.333; Schubert, Impromptu D899-3; Liszt/Schubert, Soirees de Vienne: Valse-Caprice No.6; Schumann, Kinderszenen Op.15; Chopin, Mazurka Op.33, Polonaise Heroique Op.53; Liszt, Consolation No.3; Schubert, Moment musical D780; Moszkowski, Etincelles Op.36-6
