Since 2013, Christian Thielemann has led the Easter Festival as artistic director. Due to Covid-19, the 2021 edition was moved to autumn. Together with the Staatskapelle Dresden, Christian Thielemann presented Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto with Denis Matsuev, one of the most sought-after pianists of his generation. The second part featured the symphonic poem Ein Heldenleben by Richard Strauss, one of the orchestra’s showpieces. “Thielemann attached immense importance to subtleties and also took time to savour the phrases. The soloists from his own ranks also proved to be excellent, especially concertmaster Matthias Wollong with his long violin solo. Standing ovations.” (Kurier) PROGRAM Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor; Lyadov: The Music Box, Op. 32; Strauss: Ein Heldenleben
The Vienna Christmas Concert from the Stephansdom
The festive concert from St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna spreads pre-Christmas mood with four well-known vocal soloists, the Vienna Boys’ Choir and the Vienna Symphony
Orchestra. The program under the musical direction of David Afkham includes sacred and solemn music from all over Europe, from J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Charles Gounod’s “Sanctus” to the grand finale with Engelbert Humperdinck’s Evening Blessing from “Hänsel und Gretel”. At the end of the concert, the Christmas carol “Adeste fideles” is sung together.
Mozart Week 2021: Barenboim & Argerich
It is hard to believe that piano legend Martha Argerich is really celebrating her 80th birthday this year – her youthful wit and shrewd piano playing certainly still excite. Particularly her concerts with longtime friend and compatriot Daniel Barenboim, whom she knows from early piano lessons in Buenos Aires, are stellar moments not to be missed. A musical star hour with Mozart’s piano sonatas for four hands from the Great Hall in the Mozarteum Salzburg. “A very beautiful and intimate concert together” Deutschlandfunk. PROGRAM Mozart: Sonata in C major for Piano Four Hands, K. 521, Andante with Five Variations in G major for Piano Four Hands, K. 501, Sonata in F major for Piano Four Hands, K. 497,
Sonata in D major for two Pianos, K. 448
Exodus – The Men Who Shaped Hollywood
The violinist Johannes Fleischmann gives deeply insightful interpretations of the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Erich Zeisl, Viennese composers who escaped the rise of Nazism by journeying to America shortly before World War II. There both composers adapted their talents to the world of Hollywood, becoming defining voices in the golden age of Hollywood movie scores. PROGRAM Korngold: Four Little Cheerful Waltzes: II. Margit, Violin Sonata in G major, “Schneeglöckchen”; Zeisl : Violin Sonata “Brandeis”
Thielemann conducts Bruckner “Study Symphony” & “Nullte”
To mark Anton Bruckner’s bicentenary in 2024, Christian Thielemann, the Wiener Philharmoniker and Unitel are recording the first Bruckner cycle with a single conductor in the orchestra’s history. “Two premieres: With the Study Symphony and the and the ‘Nullte’, the Wiener Philharmoniker under Christian Thielemann continued their Bruckner cycle in the empty Musikverein. For orchestra and conductor, these were first encounters. The result can already be said to be of great caliber.” Kronen Zeitung. PROGRAM Bruckner: Symphony in F minor, WAB 99 (Study Symphony), Symphony in D minor, WAB 100 (Nullte)
Grafenegg: Midsummer Night’s Gala 2021
Every year some of the world’s finest soloists meet at the Wolkenturm in Grafenegg. The Tonkünstler Orchestra, under the baton of Yutaka Sado, rolls out a scintillating carpet of sound in the Schlosspark. In 2021, soprano Rachel Willis-Sorensen, one of the most exsiting contemporary vocalists, takes charge of the Wolkenturm. Together with tenor Benjamin Bruns and the pianist and artistic director of Grafenegg, Rudolf Buchbinder, they delight the audience with masterpieces from Schumann to Lehár. The wonderful open-air setting is illuminated by a “light score” by light artist Marcus Neustetter.
Salzburg Festival 2021: Currentzis conducts Mozart
The concerts of Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis and his musicAeterna orchestra are often more of an art performance and sacred act than just the brilliant interpretation of a musical work and are among the highlights in classical musical life. The focus of the concert by Teodor Currentzis and musicAeterna at the Salzburg Festival 2021 was on two works – the symphonies K 550 and K 551, W.A. Mozart’s final contributions to the premier class of orchestral music. “It was just a stirring concert.” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) PROGRAM: Mozart: “Alzai le flebili voci al signor” Cantata K. 469; Symphony K. 550, Maurerische Trauermusik, Symphony K. 551 “Jupiter”, Aria “Non mi dir” from Don Giovanni
András Schiff in Eisenstadt
András Schiff ranks among the most successful pianists of our time. His repertoire focuses on works by Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann and Bartok. Schiff has worked with the most of the major international orchestras and conductors, but nowadays performs mainly as a soloist and conductor. He has been awarded numerous international prizes. In the beautiful Haydnsaal of Esterházy Palace, he plays virtuoso works by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert. PROGRAM Bach : Capriccio sopra la lontananza del fratello dilettissimo, English Suite No. 3; Mozart: Piano Sonata K. 570 ; Haydn: Piano Sonata in G minor; Beethoven: Piano Sonata, Op. 81a “Les Adieux” ; Schubert : Hungarian Melody, D. 817
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”