The Lovebugs, a Swiss Britpop inspired band from Basel, Switzerland founded in 1992, make music to live their dream, to live in the moment, to capture their experiences in snapshots and to listen carefully for the subtle, finer sounds in life. ‘We gave every idea for a song a chance and we rehearsed until this magic moment came – or didn’t come,’ says drummer Simon Ramseier. Bassist Florian Senn adds: ‘We worked without pressure or a specific concept and only allowed ourselves one luxury: A lot of time.’ The laid back atmosphere carried over from the songs to the entire band. ‘We are more colourful again now,’ says singer Adrian Sieber. “In our songwriting, it was important to me that the melancholy songs should not drown in sadness, but should still have a spark of hope.”
Sunshine Superman – The Story of Donovan
From shaggy-haired, demin-clad Dylan Apostle to brocade-robed, hitmaking folk-rock guru, Donovan’s ascension to 60s pop royalty was meteoric. From mediating with the Beatles in India to recording with Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page or Jack Bruce, everything this gentle Glasgow born troubadour touched turned to gold. Over the last three years, Hannes Rossacher from DoRo Productions has filmed Donovan at all the locations that have had the highest significance in this extraordinary singer/songwriter’s life, weaving together a comprehensive documentary about the life and work of Donovan.
Luisa Miller – Dynamic
Recording of a live performance at Teatro La Fenice, Venice. Darina Takova brings a warm rounded tone to Luisa, and negotiates both the character’s tenderness and passion with dramatic conviction and persuasive musicality. Giuseppe Sabbatini’s Rodolfo makes a strong match for Takova, with a secure, colorful tenor and a dramatically compelling presence. As Walter and Wurm, baritone Alexander Vinogradov and bass Artjun Kotchinian create thrillingly villainous characters with their dark, powerful voices. Mezzo Ursula Ferri sings with richness and depth as Federica. The orchestra and chorus, led by Maurizio Benini, perform with real urgency, and Benini’s flexible tempos drive the tragedy inexorably toward its devastating climax.
Roberto Devereux – Dynamic
Tragedia Lirica in three acts, Libretto by Salvadore Cammarano
La Vedova Scaltra
Wolf-Ferrari wrotes La vedova scaltra as pure amusement, a portrayal of fine intrigue that is, in itself, without any idealistic echoes, following the uncritical line of eighteenth-century comedy – nostalgia for a civilization with ancient roots, which the musician still felt he was part of.
Giovanni Antonini conducts Haydn’s Daytime Symphonies
More than 250 years after their premiere, conductor Giovanni Antonini and his ensemble Il Giardino Armonico are bringing Joseph Haydn’s three symphonies based on the times of day back to their place of origin, the magnificent Haydn Hall at Esterházy Palace in Austria. A musical journey through the day, in which the location, the work, and the musicians form a magical connection. Historical and very contemporary.
“The Morning.” “The Noon.” “The Evening.” Not just three times of day, but also three symphonies composed by Joseph Haydn, with which he probably celebrated his debut at the magnificent court of Prince Esterházy in 1761. More than 250 years later, Il Giardino Armonico, conducted by Giovanni Antonini, once again perform the cycle in the historic setting of its premiere: in the magnificent Haydn Hall of Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt in Burgenland, Austria. Long Version includes additionally Haydn: Arianna a Naxos with Kate Lindsey
RCO: Hrusa conducts Schumann, Dvorák and Suk
Yunchan Lim was the youngest ever winner of the legendary Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022. Now, at the age of twenty-one, he is making his Concertgebouw Orchestra debut in Robert Schumann’s one and only Piano Concerto. The dreamy slow movement of this Romantic work is among the most beautiful Schumann ever composed. After the interval, the conductor Jakub Hruša guides us through his native Czech Republic with symphonic poems by two renowned fellow countrymen. In The Wild Dove, Dvorak tells a story full of passion, murder and all-consuming guilt in a village community. When Dvorak died in the spring of 1904, his pupil and son-in-law Josef Suk happened to be working on Prague, a symphonic ode to the city of Prague. The epic work would also become a homage to his mentor. PROGRAM Schumann: Piano Concerto; Dvorak: The Wild Dove; Suk: Prague
La Haine live
Almost 30 years ago, the cult film LA HAINE by Mathieu Kassovitz was released, a symbol of a generation, a great classic of French cinema, revealed and rewarded at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, then with 3 awards including that of best film at the Césars. Acclaimed by critics, including internationally, drawing the admiration of personalities such as Steven Spielberg who said he “loved the movie.” In 2024, Kassovitz is back with a living and immersive creation. The director revisits the history of his cult film by adapting it on stage and highlights the eminently current nature of the film. The story of these 3 young people facing economic, social and political difficulties, the condition of women and which, in parallel with ist codes, is an ode to love, solidarity and friendship. A project rooted in current events, therefore, and whose innovative form intends to plunge the viewer into a “wrinkle” through Paris and ist suburbs thanks to a unique device that makes the scene and the screen interact: 15 paintings inspired by the film, redesigned by Mathieu Kassovitz, are broadcast on a projection system, coupled with the sets and especially with the performance of the actors on stage. This show therefore combines dance, cinema, rap, theater and live performance in an augmented, resolutely modern and unique form, supported by an original soundtrack that also makes the link between the 90s and today.
Sol & Lise
Lise Cristiani, born in the gutters of Paris, was the first cellist to dare to perform on stage in 1844. A woman with a cello! Obscene! A taboo. Until then, the instrument had only been played by men. With her Stradivarius, Lise Cristiani conquered the concert halls of Europe. On an adventurous journey, she even took her music to the farthest corner of Siberia, as Lise wrote, ‘to places where no artist had ever gone before.’ Sol Gabetta, virtuoso cellist of today, traced the history of her predecessor, searched for Lise’s repertoire, and wanted to create her own concert. The solo cellist found herself in roles entirely new to her. Like Lise once did, she also became a dramaturge and concert presenter. Lise Cristiani’s adventurous life is interwoven into the musical creation of the concert and her first performance.
The Nutcracker – A ballet by John Neumeier
Ballet master Drosselmeier takes Marie to the court theater, where she dances in new pointe shoes with cadet Günther—who gives her a mysterious nutcracker. John Neumeier’s touching choreography tells the story of saying goodbye to childhood. John Neumeier’s choreography tells the story of saying goodbye to childhood and growing up. In the course of the piece, the childlike Marie not only discovers the world of theater for herself, but also falls in love for the first time and matures into a young woman. John Neumeier’s unique version of this classic is a coming-of-age story and at the same time a tribute to the legendary ballet master and choreographer Marius Petipa, who brought classical ballet to perfection in the 19th century. The Hamburg Ballet dazzles with virtuoso elegance and opulent imagery – a Christmas fairy tale that gets under your skin.