To let Mozart’s 265th birthday pass uncelebrated just because a pandemic is raging worldwide? That was out of the question for Rolando Villazón, superstar among tenors and artistic director of the Salzburg Mozart Week! To pay tribute to the great composer, he invited the audience to a large, digital celebration concert and did not miss the opportunity to warble a few arias himself. Keri-Lynn Wilson is on the podium of the Mozarteum Orchestra, Luca Pisaroni and Giulia Semenzato bring Italian fire to the stage and sing selected Mozart arias. In addition, the concerto for flute, harp and orchestra resounds in the Mozarteum’s Great Hall. Mathilde Caldérini, principal flute of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and Xavier de Maistre on the harp compete in a contest of euphony.
Mozart Week 2021: Cara Sorella Mia – Letters and music
A concert dedicated not only to Mozart as a composer, but to Mozart the universal artist: his letters to his sister Nannerl are an art in themselves and show the wit and humor of this young and lively composer. The letters are read by the famous Austrian actress, Adele Neuhauser and are embedded into the performance of Mozart’s most beautiful sonatas for violin and piano. Played by the young violinist Emmanuel Tjeknavorian on Mozart’s own original violin and at his side playing Mozart’s original piano is Marie Sophie Hauzel. The venue is the Tanzmeistersaal of Mozart’s townhouse in Salzburg. Versions available: Concert & letters only: 68′ / Concert, letters & documentary elements: 77′. PROGRAM Violin Sonata K. 302, Violin Sonata K. 378, Violin Sonata K. 304, Violin Sonata K. 304, Violin Sonata K. 526 + Letters by W. A. Mozart to his sister Maria Anna (read in German)
Mozart Week 2021: Hengelbrock conducts Mozart
Mozart’s last symphony, the popular “Jupiter Symphony” K. 551, and Mozart’s first symphony in E flat major K. 16 are on the program of this concert and show the musical development of the “child prodigy” into a genius, who, as he grew older, found his way to an ever more drastic and profound musical language. In between, the Kyrgyzstan-born soprano Katharina Konradi, one of the most exciting young voices causing a sensation in the music world, presents arias from Le nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte and
Don Giovanni, making a convincing Mozart Week debut! A star is born! “Magic moments” Drehpunkt Kultur. Program Mozart: Symphony No. 1, “Giunse alfin il momento…” – “Deh vieni non tardar” from Le nozze di Figaro, “Ach ich fühl’s, es ist verschwunden” from Die Zauberflöte, “Batti, batti, o bel Masetto” from Don Giovanni, Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter”
Mozart Week 2021: Barenboim & Bartoli
La Bartoli – wherever she performs, the audience goes wild. Usually. Thanks to Covid-19, this time the Great Hall of the Mozarteum Salzburg is empty when Cecilia Bartoli, accompanied by one of the residence orchestras of the acclaimed Mozartwoche, the Vienna Philharmonic, under the baton of Daniel Barenboim sings “Ch’io mi scordi di te”. Of course always with her own technical perfection, heartfelt warmth and at the same time great gesture. No one masters playing on stage like she does, even if it is a stage in front of an empty hall. Further on the program: Mozart’s famous “Prague Symphony” as well as conductor Daniel Barenboim slipping into the role of the pianist playing the Piano Concerto in C minor K. 491. PROGRAM “Ch’io mi scordi di te?” – “Non temer, amato bene”, K. 505; “Vedrai, carino” from Don Giovanni; Piano Concerto No. 24, Symphony No. 38 “Prague Symphony”
Mozart Week 2021: Chamber Music with Members of the Vienna Philharmonic
Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, completed on September 29, 1789, is one of the most beautiful musical friendship pieces in music history. In his circle, it was called “Stadler Quintet”, because he wrote it for the Viennese clarinettist Anton Stadler. Mozart loved the clarinet for its timbre similar to the singing voice and no other 18th century clarinettist expressed this similarity more fully than Stadler. In this concert, the famous “Stadler Quintet” can be heard in an interpretation by members of the Wiener Philharmoniker, recorded in the Great Hall of the Mozarteum Salzburg. Further on the program: the String Quartet in C major K. 157 and the Flute Quartet in D major K. 285. “Members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra provide a chamber music highlight” (Kronenzeitung)
Mozart Week 2021: Mozartiade
This Mozartiade combines a selection of the most beautiful and touching songs composed by Mozart, including “Abendempfindung an Laura” or “Komm, lieber Mai, und mache” in the intimate atmosphere of the Mozarteum’s Great Hall, led by mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožena who is always a welcome guest in Salzburg. Among the highlights of the concert is her interpretation of “Die Alte” K. 517, in whose composition all of Mozart’s musical wit becomes obvious. In addition, soprano Sylvia Schwartz and tenor Mauro Peter present their favorite Mozart songs, while Elena Bashkirova enhances the concert with her subtle, transparent accompaniment on the piano.
Mozart Week 2021: Quatuor Van Kuijk
The Quatuor Van Kuijk was founded only 6 years ago and already they have won all the prizes that can be won: the Wigmore Hall International Chamber Music Competition, the Aix-en-Provence Festival Academy, they are BBC New Generation Artists… just to name a few. The young Viennese pianist, Maximilian Kromer, joins this exciting ensemble – what emerges is a ravishingly youthful Mozart sound. “accomplished Mozart interpreters on stage” (APA) PROGRAMM Mozart: Divertimento K. 136; Divertimento, K. 137; Piano Quartet, K. 478
Mozart Week 2021: Giedre Šlekyte conducts Mozart
Bright as a bell is the attribute that one must associate with the voice of Regula Mühlemann. Her “Exsultate jubilate” scales the shimmering heights without any trace of effort, with a natural elegance that is second to none. After her stunning performance, the concert continues with Renaud Capuçon and Gérard Caussé performing Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante K. 364 under the intense baton of Lithuanian conductor Giedre Šlekyte on the podium of the Camerata Salzburg. PROGRAM Symphony No. 31, “Exsultate, jubilate” K. 165, “Nehmt meinen Dank, ihr holden Gönner” K. 383, Sinfonia concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra K. 364
Salzburg Festival 2020: Daniel Barenboim plays Beethoven
“The states of mind that are incomprehensible in words, as Beethoven set them in music tragically, sadly, comically, lonely, solemnly, cheerfully, wrathfully, pathetically, or parodistically in the Diabelli Variations, Daniel Barenboim conveys in manifold elegance” Salzburger Nachrichten. PROGRAM Beethoven: Sonata for Piano No. 31; 33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli – “Diabelli Variations”
Salzburg Festival 2020: Martha Argerich and Renaud Capuçon
“The manual skills, the virtuosic and differentiated use of the pedal and the relaxed arm position and sound quality of 79-year-old Argerich are simply unique. A great moment of chamber music” BR Klassik. PROGRAM Beethoven: Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 8; Prokofiev: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2; Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major