In this piano recital, master pianist Evgeny Kissin spans the programme from Bach to Mozart to Chopin and Rachmaninoff. For the latter, Kissin makes a passionate commitment in the year of the composer’s 150th birthday: “Rachmaninoff’s music”, he says, “has a quality that speaks directly to people. There are no language barriers”. With the selection of one piece, Kissin consciously positions himself against Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine. Chopin’s Polonaise in F-sharp minor, Op. 44, became part of the recital at short notice. Composed in 1841, it was written at a time when Poland was in a similar situation as Ukraine is now: Warsaw was occupied by Russian troops. “Goosebumps, new insights, unanimous cheers” (Frankfurter Neue Presse)
Salzburg Festival 2021: Thomas Zehetmair plays Bach
In the Great Hall of the Mozarteum, the Austrian violinist creates one of the most impressive concert dates of the Salzburg Festival 2021 with his solo concert. Zehetmair performs Johann Sebastian Bach’s six-part composition in a very profound way, making the epochal work with its many levels also a very personal, artistic statement. This makes the concert an overwhelming experience of over two hours. “A Zen master makes Bach shine. Thomas Zehetmair handles the work for solo violin uncompromisingly well.” (Salzburger Nachrichten) PROGRAM Bach: The complete Sonatas and Partitas
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”
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
Salzburg Festival 2021: Evgeny Kissin
Evgeny Kissin appeared in Salzburg in 2021 with compositions of the late Romantic and classical modern periods in the Großes Festspielhaus. Since his debut in 1987, the pianist has been a welcome guest at this festival, impressing with the maturity and brilliance of his playing. Kissin loves the dialogue with the audience and the direct power of the concert moment. PROGRAM Chopin: Scherzo Nos 1 & 2, Polonaise in A flat major, Op. 53 “Héroïque”, Nocturne in B major, Op. 62/1, Impromptu Nos 1-3; Berg: Piano Sonata, Op. 1; Khrennikov: Three pieces for piano, Op. 5: No. 3 Dance, Five pieces for piano, Op. 2; Gershwin: Three Preludes for Piano; Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Songs Without Words, Op. 38: No. 6 Duetto
Mozart Week 2021: 94 seconds of new Mozart
Premieres and sensational finds are rare but there are still miracles happening: there is hardly any other composer whose life and work have been better researched and of whose complete works we have such a precise listing. Above all, because his enterprising father Leopold had compiled a catalogue of compositions by his child prodigy already in 1768. Now the almost impossible has occurred: a new, completely unknown work by Mozart has surfaced! The Allegro in D major K 626b/16, a three-part, dance-like piano piece lasts a total of 94 seconds. Examined for authenticity by the best international Mozart scholars, it is being performed for the first time ever in Salzburg, the birthplace of the great genius. But for what occasion was it composed, how was it handed down? Ulrich Leisinger, scientific director of the Mozarteum Foundation, answers these questions in conversation with Rolando Villazón. This lecture is embedded into a concert program starring Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho and putting the new work into context. PROGRAM Piano Sonata No. 12, Piano Piece “Pimpinella”, K. 33b; Allegro from a Salzburg Music Book; Allegro, K. 626b/16 “World Premiere”. Versions available: Talk in English: 50’/ Sonata K. 332 only: 20′
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: Chamber Music with Members of the Vienna Philharmonic
Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, completed on September 29, 1789, is one of the most beautiful musical friendship pieces in music history. In his circle, it was called “Stadler Quintet”, because he wrote it for the Viennese clarinettist Anton Stadler. Mozart loved the clarinet for its timbre similar to the singing voice and no other 18th century clarinettist expressed this similarity more fully than Stadler. In this concert, the famous “Stadler Quintet” can be heard in an interpretation by members of the Wiener Philharmoniker, recorded in the Great Hall of the Mozarteum Salzburg. Further on the program: the String Quartet in C major K. 157 and the Flute Quartet in D major K. 285. “Members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra provide a chamber music highlight” (Kronenzeitung)
Mozart Week 2021: Mozartiade
This Mozartiade combines a selection of the most beautiful and touching songs composed by Mozart, including “Abendempfindung an Laura” or “Komm, lieber Mai, und mache” in the intimate atmosphere of the Mozarteum’s Great Hall, led by mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožena who is always a welcome guest in Salzburg. Among the highlights of the concert is her interpretation of “Die Alte” K. 517, in whose composition all of Mozart’s musical wit becomes obvious. In addition, soprano Sylvia Schwartz and tenor Mauro Peter present their favorite Mozart songs, while Elena Bashkirova enhances the concert with her subtle, transparent accompaniment on the piano.