Elina Garanca, the star of this festal Advent concert, proves once more “that she has one of the loveliest and finest voices in the whole world”. In Georges Bizet’s “Agnus Dei”, in the “Regina Coeli” from Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, she lets her voice “shine and beam, bringing tears to many eyes”, the critics enthuse. Meanwhile Christiane Karg captivates us with her crystalclear soprano, winging its way straight to our hearts. The concert is conducted by maestro Pablo Heras-Casado, whose sensitive touch and style-conscious precision brings out to the full the particularly refined sound of the Staatskapelle. (Der neue Merker)
Salonen conducts Sibelius and Grieg
This concert by the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundunks has an entirely Scandinavian theme. Under the aegis of Finnish-born Esa-Pekka Salonen the orchestra begins the recital with “Eleven Gates”, a work of soundpainting by the contemporary Swedish composer Anders Hillborg. Alice Sara Ott provides the focal point of the evening, with the Piano Concerto by the Norwegian Edvard Grieg. The orchestra rises to the challenge with the impressive final work, the great Fifth Symphony by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, a performance marking his 150th birthday “that no one who was present will ever forget.” (Süddeutsche Zeitung)
Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Gil Shaham in Concert
Sunday, the 29th of June, 2014, marks the 100th anniversary of Rafael Kubelík’s birth, Chief Conductor of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks from 1961 to 1979. Violinist Gil Shaham and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin have dedicated this concerts to the memory of the great artist and human being, Rafael Kubelík, who has left an indelible mark on the orchestra for many years right to the present day. On the program Béla Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2 and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major “Titan”.
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2013
Program: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Paulus: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate / Tu virginum corona / Alleluia; Camille Saint-Saëns, Oratorio de Noël: Domine, ego credidi / Tollite hostias; Pietro Mascagni, Ave Maria; Max Reger, Unser lieben Frauen Traum; Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker: Decorating the Christmas Tree / A Pine Forest in Winter; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Great Mass in C minor: Domine Deus / Cum sancto spiritu; Giacomo Puccini, Salve Regina; Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Elias: Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen; Adolphe Adam, Cantique de Noël / Macht hoch die Tür
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2012
Program: J.S.BACH: Orchestra Suite No. 4: Réjouissance / G. F. HANDEL: Messiah: “Alle Tale macht hoch erhaben”, “Denn die Herrlichkeit Gottes des Herrn”, “Halleluja” / W. KIENZL: Weihnacht (Kulman) / W. A. MOZART: Great Mass in C minor: Gloria in excelsis Deo, Laudamus te / A. BRUCKNER: Locus iste (Chor a cappella) / J. MASSENET, Méditation aus „Thais“ / MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY: Weihnachtskantate „Vom Himmel hoch“ / E. HUMPERDINCK: Christmas Cantata: “Vom Himmel hoch”, Hänsel und Gretel: Abendsegen und Traumpantomime, CH. GOUNOD: Saint Cecilia Mass: Sanctus
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2011
Mezzo-soprano Sophie Koch and baritone Thomas Hampson are the stars of this year’s traditional Advent concert in the historic Frauenkirche in Dresden. Conductor Christian Thielemann heads this particularly lavish program with the Staatskapelle Dresden in the famous Baroque church. Together with the State Opera Chorus, and in a setting of resplendent beauty, they perform inspiring and festive works such as arias from Bach’s Mass in B minor and his Christmas Oratorio. The festive Advent concerts have become an institution since the year 2000. The TV broadcast of the concert is watched by almost two million viewers in Germany alone.
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazón – Episode 12
Program: Dmitri Shostakovich: Festive Overture / Gaetano Donizetti: “Prendi, per me sei libero” from L’elisir d’amore / Carl Maria von Weber: Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra in E flat major / Alexander Glazunov: Chant du ménestrel for Cello and Orchestra / Johann Sebastian Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G major – Sarabande: Irving Berlin Puttin’ on the Ritz / Giacomo Puccini “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi / Igor Stravinsky: Three pieces for Clarinet solo / Jules Massenet: Elégie / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Overture to The Nutcracker
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazón – Episode 16
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Presto from the Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor – Soloist: Inga Fiolia (Georgia) / Giuseppe Verdi “Per me giunto è il dì supremo” from “Don Carlo” Soloist: ZhengZhong Zhou (China) / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Rondo in C major Soloist: Michael Barenboim (Germany) / Ney Rosauro Despedida (Farewell) from Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra – Soloist: Ni Fan (China) / Alexander Scriabin Préludes No. 9, 14, 17 & 20 from 24 Préludes, Op. 11 Soloist: Inga Fiolia (Georgia) /
Francis Poulenc Chanson No. 7 “La Belle Jeunesse” from “Chansons gaillardes” – Soloist: ZhengZhong Zhou (China) / Béla Bartók Fuga from Sonata for Solo Violin, Sz. 117
Soloist: Michael Barenboim (Germany) / Tobias Boström Arena – Percussion Concerto No. 1 Soloist: Ni Fan (China) / Carlos Gardel “El día que me quieras” (The day that you love me) Soloist: Rolando Villazón, Inga Fiolia (Georgia), Michael Barenboim (Germ.) / Gioachino Rossini Overture from “Guillaume Tell” Orchestra: Junge Sinfonie Berlin
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazón – Episode 15
George Frideric Handel Vivo from Suite No. 1, “Water Music” Soloists: German Hornsound (Germany) / Vincenzo Bellini “Care compagne” from “La sonnambula” Soloist: Kristina Mkhitaryan (Russia) / Claude Debussy Prélude “La fille aux cheveux de lin” Soloist: Andreas Ottensamer (Austria) / Georg Philipp Telemann Largo and Presto from Viola Concerto in G major Soloist: Hwayoon Lee (Korea) / Niccolò Paganin Presto from Caprice No. 16 in G major Soloist: Hwayoon Lee (Korea) / Edward Grieg “Morning Mood” from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Soloist: Andreas Ottensamer (Austria) / Sergei Rachmaninoff Romance No. 10: “Before my Window” Soloist: Kristina Mkhitaryan (Russia)
/ Giuseppe Verdi “Sempre libera” from “La traviata” Soloist: German Hornsound (Germany) / Gioachino Rossini La danza from “Les soirées musicales” Soloist: Andreas Ottensamer (Austria)
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazón – Episode 14
Gioachino Rossini: Overture to Il Signor Bruschino / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: “Bald prangt, den Morgen zu verkünden” from Die Zauberflöte / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Ave verum corpus” / Francesco Paolo Tosti: “Marechiare” / Jules Massenet: “Celui dont la parole” Aria of Salomé from Hérodiade / Joseph Haydn Piano Concerto in D major, Hob. XVIII:11 Rondo all’Ungarese / Francesco Cilea: “È la solita storia del pastore” (Lamento di Frederico) from L’ Arlesiana / György Ligeti: Fanfares / Manuel Penella “Vaya una tarde bonita…Sí! Torero” Duet of Rafael and Soleá from Il gato montés