When conductor Christian Thielemann, master interpreter of the romantic repertoire, and Renée Fleming, late-romantic specialist par excellence, weave their talents into the orchestral tapestry unfolded by the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, one of the oldest and most revered orchestras in the world, they create, as put by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, “romantic music as magic for the ears”. For this special concert, the first concert of Christian Thielemann as the principal conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden, they chose the orchestral songs by the Austrian composer HUGO WOLF and ANTON BRUCKNER’s Symphony No. 7.
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
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 at Pier 2
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 recordi 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 the popular venue “Pier 2”.
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)
3 Stars in Berlin – Live from the Waldbühne 2011
When Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann and Erwin Schrott join forces, the result is a summit of vocal giants, recorded for posterity at Berlin’s spectacular outdoor Waldbühne. Accompanied by the Prague Philharmonia under Marco Armiliato, the three singers beguiled the audience with a program ranging from famous arias to forgotten gems. There’s something for everyone, from the connoisseur to the layman who rarely listens to classical music. Also of the highest standard is the recording itself, with expert camerawork ensuring that the concert’s unique atmosphere is vividly transposed to the screen.
The Chopin Piano Concertos
The 200th anniversary of the birth of Frédéric Chopin stimulated a new appreciation of the Polish composer’s works. One of the truly great homages paid to Chopin was the concert presented on this recording and featuring the two Chopin piano concertos performed by Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin under Andris Nelsons at the Ruhr Piano Festival in Essen. “Storms of applause for a dream couple: Daniel Barenboim and Andris Nelsons won over the audience [ ] with their rousing Chopin interpretations”, raved the press.
Sting – Live in Berlin
Sting – pop hero, constantly evolving singer-songwriter and living legend – now presents a concert of his most celebrated songs in lush symphonic arrangements. Under the title ‘Symphonicities’, Sting brings together brand-new orchestrations of his greatest hits, including those of POLICE, which he performed in a tour of nearly 70 cities in North America and Europe with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted by Steven Mercurio. Sting’s Berlin concert was recorded at the stunning O2 World.
Andris Nelsons: From the new World
“Andris Nelsons and the BR-Symphonieorchester are a sensation”, raved the press. It isn’t often that a young conductor excites audiences and stirs up critics to the extent that Andris Nelsons does. As can be seen in this concert “From the New World”, he communicates his passion with a vocabulary of gestures that sweep the audience off their feet. The concert with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks is devoted to the “New World”. The main work of the evening is Antonín Dvorák’s Ninth Symphony, “From the New World”. The first half features compositions of the 20th and 21st-century by American composers Charles Ives and John Adams, along with a work by Igor Stravinsky, who spent several decades in the U.S.