For their Chinese Night, staged in the open air by the Staatskapelle Dresden in the city’s central park, the long-established German orchestra – one of the oldest in the world – called upon the services of three artists from the land of Cathay: the young pianist Yuja Wang already hailed as a world star, the Paganini Competition prizewinner Mengla Huang and the world-class Chinese-American conductor Xian Zhang. The main work of the evening is RACHMANINOFF’s Third Piano Concerto, other pieces are RIMSKY-KORSAKOV’s Capriccio Espagnol, PROKOFIEV’s March from The Love For Three Oranges and also excerpts from the Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto by the Chinese composers CHEN GANG and HE ZHANHAO, one of the best known works of contemporary Chinese music. —– Program: Chen GANG/He ZHANHAO: Parts from “The Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto“; Nikolai RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34; Sergei RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30; Vladimir HOROWITZ: Variations on a theme from Georges Bizet’s “Carmen“; Sergey PROKOFIEV: March from “The Love For Three Oranges“
Notte Italiana
Since its première in the year 2000, “Classics on Odeonsplatz” has been a highlight of the Munich cultural season. Flanked by stylishly illuminated historical edifices, such as the Theatiner Church and the Residence, some 16,000 people each year thrill to music in this unique atmosphere. The Feldherrnhalle as orchestral platform and the adjoining historical buildings make Odeonsplatz into an open-air arena with magnificent acoustics. On the program arias by Giuseppe VERDI (“Nabucco”, “Aida”, “La Traviata”), Giacomo PUCCINI (“Tosca”, Gianni Schicchi”, “La Bohème”) and Ruggero LEONCAVALLO “I Pagliacci”, amongst others.
Riccardo Chailly and Nicolaj Znaider: Mendelssohn, Mahler
Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly – a “long-time respected Mahlerian” (Financial Times) – and “his” Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig prove once again their exceptional grasp of the Mahler Symphonies. In this concert at the Gewandhaus Leipzig Mahler’s “Tragic Symphony” is combined with a piece of music that has its origin in that very place: Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto that Mendelssohn composed for his friend Ferdinand David, at that time concertmaster of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, and that was given his first performance at the Gewandhaus in 1845. In this concert, it is performed by young Danish star violinist Nikolaj Znaider. —– Program: Felix MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64; Gustav MAHLER, Symphony No. 6 in A minor; Johann Sebastian BACH (Encore), Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 – Sarabande
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazón – Episode 30
With unparalleled charm and whirlwind exuberance, world-renowned tenor Rolando Villazón hosts a unique television special in which young musical “stars of tomorrow” are introduced to millions of music lovers as soloists in performances with the Junge Sinfonie Berlin under the baton of Giedre Slekyte und Elias Grandy – a highly successful, casual, briskly paced concert series that appeals to young audiences!
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazón – Episode 31
With unparalleled charm and whirlwind exuberance, world-renowned tenor Rolando Villazón hosts a unique television special in which young musical “stars of tomorrow” are introduced to millions of music lovers as soloists in performances with the Junge Sinfonie Berlin under the baton of Giedre Slekyte und Elias Grandy – a highly successful, casual, briskly paced concert series that appeals to young audiences!
Pollini and Thielemann perform Brahms and Reger
Legendary pianist Maurizio Pollini and star conductor Christian Thielemann team up with the Staatskapelle Dresden for an exceptional concert of late-romantic music. For his first concert with the Staatskapelle in nearly 25 years, Pollini plays Brahms’ mighty First Piano Concerto. Thielemann harnesses the orchestra’s dynamic power and melds it with Pollini’s vitality. Also on the program are Brahms’ ‘Tragic Overture’ and Reger’s ‘Romantic Suite’. Reger’s charming, colorfully orchestrated work, premiered with the Staatskapelle in 1912, is a valuable addition to the romantic repertoire.
New Year‘s Eve Concert 2011 Gala Concert from the Semperoper
German Television’s traditional and most successful New Year’s Eve Concert from the stunning Semperoper will feature this year Angela Denoke, Ana Maria Labin and Piotr Beczala. Maestro Christian Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Dresden will celebrate the New Year’s Eve with the most beautiful melodies from operettas by Franz Lehár. A short entr’acte performed in the foyer by members of the theater’s ballet ensemble allows the viewer a glimpse into the luxurious interior of the Semperoper.
Schumann Cycle Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
After their internationally acclaimed Beethoven cycle, Paavo Järvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen now present their vision of Schumann’s four symphonies. As the press wrote: “The dream team under Järvi has just landed another major coup”. In addition to the live recordings of the concerts, the production also features a documentary which portrays the origin and development of the project. “We want to show ourselves as we make music”, says Järvi. Reflecting the
ensemble’s pedagogical mission to make classical music accessible to the young, the production took place at the popular venue “Pier 2”. —– Lengths: SYMPHONIES: Symph. No. 1: 35′ / No. 2: 41′ / No. 3 36′ / No. 34′; DOCUMENTARY “Schumann at pier2” directed by Christian Berger, 90′ or 2 x 45′ (Cat. no. A055134940000)
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazón – Episode 22
With unparalleled charm and whirlwind exuberance, world-renowned tenor Rolando Villazón hosts a unique television special in which young musical “stars of tomorrow” are introduced to millions of music lovers as soloists in performances with the Junge Sinfonie Berlin under the baton of Giedre Slekyte und Elias Grandy – a highly successful, casual, briskly paced concert series that appeals to young audiences!
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazón – Episode 23
With unparalleled charm and whirlwind exuberance, world-renowned tenor Rolando Villazón hosts a unique television special in which young musical “stars of tomorrow” are introduced to millions of music lovers as soloists in performances with the Junge Sinfonie Berlin under the baton of Giedre Slekyte und Elias Grandy – a highly successful, casual, briskly paced concert series that appeals to young audiences!