Two world-renowned baritones Thomas Hampson and Luca Pisaroni lead the audience through a gallery of opera characters which the “kings of high-Cs” cannot portray. They introduce themselves as devoted friends (Marquis Posa), rulers (Phillip II. and King Herod), devils (Mephistopheles) and the most famous operatic embodiment of evil (Iago) … . Most composers devoted the roles of lovers to tenors; yet, the most famous seducer of all times, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, is a baritone … . —— Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Charles Gounod, Jules Massenet, Giuseppe Verdi, Vincenzo Bellini, Gioacchino Rossini, Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, Leonard Bernstein, Gaetano Donizetti
Andris Nelsons and Yefim Bronfman at the Lucerne Festival
For his tone poem ‘Scheherazade’ Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov chose four episodes from the famous 1001 nights tales collection to set, using glowing instrumental colors and exotically tinged ornaments. Andris Nelsons, the young and charismatic star conductor from Latvia, will be sure to inspire a veritable sonic intoxication with the wonderful
Concertgebouw Orchestra. In contrast, the first part of the concert will strike a heroic note when Yefim Bronfman, whose virtuosity knows no limits, plays Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto.
Lucerne Festival 2013: Daniel Barenboim & West Eastern Divan Orchestra at Lucerne Festival
Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra performing works by the Jordanian composer Saed Haddad (*1972) and the Israel-based “composer-in-residence” of Lucerne Festival 2013, Chaya Czernowin (*1957). The two world premieres were contrasted by works of the two great composers celebrating their 200th anniversary: Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. —– PROGRAM: G. Verdi: Overture to Les Vêpres siciliennes; S. Haddad (*1972): Que la lumière soit (world premiere); G. Verdi: La traviata, preludes to act 1 and 3, Overture to La forza del destino; R. Wagner: Prelude to Parsifal; Ch. Czernowin (*1957): At the Fringe of Our Gaze (world premiere); R. Wagner: Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Lucerne Festival: Andris Nelsons conducts Brahms
Claudio Abbado himself chose Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody as the center of the opening concert 2014, and Andris Nelsons and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra probe its psychological depths – while further exploring the psychic landscape of this German Romantic’s music as expressed in the Second Serenade and the Second Symphony. —– PROGRAM: Brahms: Serenade No. 2 in D major op. 16 for Small Orchestra / Alto Rhapsody op. 53 for Alto, Male Chorus and Orchestra / Symphony No. 2 in D major op. 73. (Cat. No. UNITEL: A955500030000)
Brahms: The Complete String Quartets – Belcea Quartet
Founded in London in 1994, the Belcea Quartet is now seen as one of the world’s most renowned string quartets. The quartet’s broadly based repertoire ranges from the works of the Viennese Classical era to premieres of contemporary compositions. Here the Belcea Quartet devotes itself to the three string quartets by Johannes Brahms: “The three quartets are of great beauty and refined sophistication, which never fails to inspire us”, says Corina Belcea. It is a beauty and refinement that radiates from the brilliant and nuanced interpretation to be heard on this studio recording.
Barenboim conducts Mozart
In order to celebrate the declaration of the “Human Rights” Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra perform an all-Mozart programme at the heart of the United Nations in Geneva in the presence of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. The performance under the title Concert for the Understanding of Civilizations and Human Rights featured W.A. Mozart’s last three Symphonies, No. 39, No. 40 and No. 41 (Jupiter). The imposing setting of the Human Rights Hall at the Palace of Nations, which houses the Miquel Barceló dome, provides a stunning backdrop for the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in this concert that aimes at promoting peace efforts around the world and highlights the principles contained in the Universal Declaration.
WEDO and Barenboim: The Human Rights Concert
In order to celebrate the declaration of the “Human Rights” Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra perform at the heart of the United Nations in Geneva. The Orchestra, which was just recently designated as United Nations Global Advocate for Cultural Understanding by the UN is joined by rising cello virtuoso Kian Soltani in order to perform Joseph Haydn’s Concerto for Violoncello No. 1. This first part is followed by the Sinfonia Concertante for four winds by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, featuring four young soloists from Spain, Germany, Turkey and Israel. The imposing setting of the Human Rights Hall at the Palace of Nations, which houses the Miquel Barceló dome, provides a stunning backdrop for this concert highlighting the principles contained in the Universal Declaration.
Omer Meir Wellber conducts Bach and Schubert
American violinist Hilary Hahn – “one of the essential violinists of our time” (The New York Times) – appears for the first time at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Switzerland, with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Violin Concertos in A minor and E major. At the age of 17 she made a huge impression with the recording of Bach’s six sonatas and partitas. Twenty years later she still interprets Bach with the same ease and fascinates by her unaffected, brilliant playing. Together with Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, who later perform Schubert’s “Tragic” 4th Symphony, this results in an enchanting interplay in the beautiful Mauritius Church. The conductor is the Israeli Omer Meir Wellber, who also reaches for the bandoneon in Piazzolla’s rousing Oblivion encore.
Lucerne Festival 2021: Currentzis conducts Mahler No. 5
Meet the exceptionnal Teodor Currentzis at the helm of musicAeterna for a memorable concert at Luzern’s KKL! On the program: Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, a favorite of the ensemble, with its gorgeous Adagietto whose direction is a challenge to all conductors, the perfect opportunity for the maestro to showcase his style. Then, we move on to Anaphora by contemporary composer Alexey Retinsky, a work which plays on the contrasting sound textures between acoustic and electric instruments to create innovative and rich harmonic colors. PROGRAM Mahler: Symphony No. 5; Retinsky: Anaphora
Albrecht Mayer in Concert
Unlike the piano, the violin or even the flute, the oboe is a relatively rare instrument for a solo career. And when a soloist such as Albrecht Mayer plays the oboe, one wishes composers had written more works for this weetly mellow instrument. Critics write about the “divine spark” that inspires his playing, and about the “miraculous oboe” that turns into “an instrument of seduction.” With his particularly warm tone and exceptionally broad palette of nuances, it’s no surprise that Albrecht Mayer is one of today’s most sought-after international oboists.