Theodor Currentzis presents his new orchestra project „Utopia“ – and brings together 112 musicians from 22 nations. Outstanding musicians from international orchestras, the independent scene, soloists and chamber musicians come together to work on exemplary works of orchestral literature. The debut concerts of the new orchestra focus on refined and complex orchestral works of the early 20th century: Stravinsky‘s rarely performed third „Firebird“ suite from 1945, as well as the masterfully orchestrated second suite from „Daphnis et Chloé“ and the choreographic poem „La Valse“ by Maurice Ravel. All of the compositions exemplify the aesthetic thinking of the time. They are exquisite artefacts for demanding connoisseurs: The latest achievements in the art of orchestration, rousing dance rhythms and frenzied apotheoses stand for themselves. The „l‘art pour l‘art“ principle („art for art‘s sake“) is in the foreground here. In keeping with the orchestra‘s name, all three works thematize a form of the golden age: the ancient Greek pastoral („Daphnis et Chloé“), the Russian fairy-tale world („The Firebird“) and the Austrian imperial court in its heyday („La Valse“). PROGRAM Stravinsky: Firebird; Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé, La Valse, Boléro
Jan Lisiecki plays Chopin
Polish-Canadian star pianist Jan Lisiecki together with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra play the two enchanting Piano concertos by Frédéric Chopin and Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony, in one of Oslo’s most beautiful venues: the University of Oslo’s ceremonial hall. Edvard Munch completed his Aula paintings in 1916, and they have decorated the walls of the Aula ever since. It is also home of Det Norske Kammerorkester (DNK), the most famous chamber orchestra in Oslo that was founded in 1977. The ensemble was founded by violinist Bjarne Fiskum, who got the idea after a summer course for young string talents in the summer of 1975. Polish-Canadian Jan Lisiecki is considered one of the most promising young pianists in the world. As the youngest musician ever he received Gramophone’s Young Artist Award in 2013. PROGARM Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2; Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony
Bayreuth Festival 2022: Die Walküre
This new production of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Bayreuth Festival was the opera event of the 2022 festival season. Young director Valentin Schwarz reimagines the mythical story in the present day and tells a gripping family saga in the world of the rich and powerful. The musical direction is in the hands of Cornelius Meister. In the second part of the tetralogy, Schwarz delves in particular into the relationship between Wotan, the father of the gods, and his “favorite daughter” Brünnhilde, showing it as especially unhappy and traumatic. Lise Davidsen and Klaus Florian Vogt prove themselves audience favourites for their portrayal of the siblings and lovers Sieglinde and Siegmund.
Bayreuth Festival 2022: Siegfried
This new production of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Bayreuth Festival was the opera event of the 2022 festival season. Young director Valentin Schwarz reimagines the mythical story in the present day and tells a gripping family saga in the world of the rich and powerful. The musical direction is in the hands of Cornelius Meister. In Siegfried, Schwarz underlines the tragicomic elements in the relationship between the title hero and his foster father, Mime. The production also finds original and novel images for Siegfried’s encounter with the dragon and Brünnhilde’s liberation from the circle of fire. As Siegfried, Andreas Schager makes light of the role’s legendary challenges.
Bayreuth Festival 2022: Götterdämmerung
This new production of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Bayreuth Festival was the opera event of the 2022 festival season. Young director Valentin Schwarz reimagines the mythical story in the present day and tells a gripping family saga in the world of the rich and powerful. The musical direction is in the hands of Cornelius Meister. The final part of the tetralogy sees Siegfried abandon his beloved Brünnhilde, allowing himself to be taken in by the Gibichungen and the unscrupulous Hagen and succumbing to the advances of Gutrune. Schwarz once more features the powerful symbol of a child and turns the horse Grane into a human companion of Brünnhilde, who also plays a central role in the shocking final image.
RCO Opening Night 2022: Alain Altinoglu & Vikingur Olafsson and Martin Fröst
The Concertgebouw Orchestra celebrates the new concert season in Westerpark with conductor Alain Altinoglu, clarinettist Martin Fröst, pianist Víkingur Ólafsson and music by Adams, Grieg and Bernstein. The evening gets off to an energetic start with John Adams’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine. The programme continues with Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto, followed by a selection of dances for clarinet and orchestra, in which clarinet virtuoso Martin Fröst can truly shine. The evening concludes with Bernstein’s popular Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.
RCO: Luisi conducts Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky
Fabio Luisi conducts two intensely romantic Russian works: Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony and Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto with master pianist Yefim Bronfman, artist in residence with the Concertgebouworkest. The soloist performing this compelling piano concerto is the star turn of the programme. Yefim Bronfman has been a popular guest with the Concertgebouworkest for twenty years, but has never before performed Rachmaninoff at Concertgebouworkest! Now at last we had the chance to hear how this connoisseur of the Russian repertoire approaches this marvellous work. PROGRAM Tchaikovsky; Symphony No. 6; Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3.
RCO: Gardiner conducts Brahms Symphony No. 2
Who was Johannes Brahms? In a new cycle of four concerts, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, is investigating Brahms’s œuvre through the lens of the four symphonies performed over two seasons and accompanied by other works by the composer. The Second Symphony is juxtaposed with the First Piano Concerto with soloist Stephen Hough. Under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Brahms is instilled with a new radiance and vitality. PROGRAM Brahms: Symphony No. 2, Piano Concerto No. 1
Le Concert de Paris 2022
It is now a well-established tradition: every year, on July 14, the Orchestre National de France welcomes the summer with a large musical gathering at the foot of the Eiffel Tower with stunning fireworks! Conducted by Cristian Macelaru, and accompanied by the Chorus of Radio France, the orchestra invites the audience around the world and thousands of people on the spot, to experience great arias and famous concert pieces in the company of prestigious soloists like Alice Sara Ott, Nadine Sierra, Lea Desandre, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Gautier Capuçon Erwin Schrott and Leonidas Kavakos.
Anne-Sophie Mutter and NY Philharmonic at Kraftwerk Peenemünde
It is a special place: it was here that the Nazi regime had the rockets developed that were used to bombard London during World War II. Today, the former turbine hall is a place of remembrance and reconciliation. Anne-Sophie Mutter, the four-time Grammy Award winner and formative soloist, mentor and visionary, connects Germany and the USA like no other violinist. Her husband, the American-Jewish pianist, composer and conductor André Previn, who died in 2019, dedicated the violin concerto ‘Anne-Sophie‘ to her. It is one of his most successful works and a profound love letter full of virtuosity for a master of her instrument. Joan Tower is also dedicated to strong women. With “1920/2019” from the New York Philharmonic‘s Project 19, the young composer pays tribute to the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote and which celebrated its centenary in 2020. The New York Philharmonic also finds diversity in equality in Béla Bartók’s most successful work. His concerto for orchestra, premiered in Boston in 1944, demands brilliant solo and virtuoso performances from the orchestra. PROGRAM Previn: Violin Concerto ‘Anne Sophie‘; Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Tower: 1920/2019 (European premiere)