András Schiff – Lecture/Concert: Bach Partitas for Solo Piano
Sir András Schiff has spent many years probing the inexhaustible riches of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. At Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin he continues his series of
lectures & concerts with a presentation of Bach’s six partitas for solo piano. Available are Schiff’s complete performance (A055510070000 / 145′) of the partitas as well as his lecture – held in German (A055509760000 / 120′) and in English (A055509750000 / 115′) that includes musical examples at the piano.
The Christmas Tree Concert – Martha Argerich & Daniel Barenboim
Long-time artistic partners and close friends Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim bring their extraordinary artistry to the Pierre Boulez Saal in a piano duo recital, which features Bizet’s charming “Jeux d’enfants” alongside Ravel’s work for four hands “Ma Mère l’Oye” and Liszt’s rarely heard “Weihnachtsbaum suite”, an arrangement of Christmas carols written for his granddaughter. When Argerich and Barenboim invite the children in the audience to sit on the floor around the piano for their performance of Weihnachtsbaum, it is in the spirit of Christmas, when families come together, and reminiscent of the work’s premiere: First performed in a Rome hotel room on Christmas Day 1881 by Liszt’s granddaughter Daniela, the suite of 12 pieces brought the composer a family reunion with his beloved daughter and granddaughter.
Belcea Quartet & Antoine Tamestit at Pierre Boulez Saal
The Belcea Quartet, one of the world’s leading chamber music ensembles, teams up with viola player Antoine Tamestit to light up the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin with an exciting programme that ranges from the Classical and Romantic era to the 20th century: Mozart’s String Quintet in C major and Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, which the Russian composer wrote in only three days in 1960. Brahms’s String Quintet No. 2 in G major completes the impressive set of the Belcea Quartet, about whom “The Guardian” raves: “A world-class ensemble!”
Claude Debussy – Commemorating the 100th Anniversary
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Claude Debussy, a group of acclaimed international artists, led by Daniel Barenboim, presents a selection of the French composer’s chamber music and songs. Along with duo and trio sonatas, the program includes the evocative “Syrinx for solo flute” played by Emmanuel Pahud and the “Chansons de Bilitis”, featuring French mezzo-soprano Marianne Crebassa. A celebration of an exceptional composer who is widely considered one of the fathers of modern music.
The Belcea Quartet performs Haydn, Ligeti & Dvorák
The Belcea Quartet, one of the world’s leading chamber music ensembles, lights up the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin with their exciting programme consisting of three string quartets from three different centuries. The hall with its perfect acoustics specifically caters to the needs of performers of chamber music and provides an intimate setting for the multinational quartet, here beautifully captured on film. Haydn’s 18th century masterpiece is followed by Ligeti’s String Quartet No. 1 and an atmospheric rendition of Dvorák’s so-called “American Quartet”. The musicians’ journey through the history of string quartets is rounded off by the encore “O Albion”, the sixth movement of contemporary English composer Thomas Adès’s String Quartet Op. 12 “Arcadiana”. “The Belcea Quartet searches and finds the essence of this music” (Der Tagesspiegel).
Daniel Barenboim: The Complete Schubert Sonatas
Star pianist Daniel Barenboim embarks on a survey of Schubert’s completed piano sonatas. In each of the four recitals in the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin, Barenboim offers a journey through Schubert’s creative life, from the youthful sonatas of the earlier years to the great masterworks written during his final months. Universally recognized as supreme expressions of the Romantic spirit, these works, ignored after the composer’s death for more than a century, today stand at the centre of the piano repertoire, side by side with the piano works of Beethoven, Schubert’s admired predecessor and contemporary. The press raves about the Maestro’s Schubert interpretation: “Superb Schubert from
an Old Master.” (Bachtrack) “This is Schubert at his most intense. Breathtaking!” (Guardian) // Concert I: 83′; Concert II: 97′; Concert III: 88′; Concert IV: 87′;
András Schiff – Lecture Concert Goldberg Variations
One of the most important Bach interpreters of our time dedicates himself to a work that is one of the most fascinating compositions of the entire pre-Classical era: In this lecture concert Sir András Schiff takes the audience on a journey to discover Bach’s Goldberg Variations in word and sound. Originally published as “Aria with various alterations”, the 30 variations have become an epitome of the Baroque period. Pianist Schiff “is a gifted teacher” (Süddeutsche Zeitung), guiding the audience on his excursion that takes him “from serenity to serenity, with highpoints and pauses for contemplation along the way.” (The Arts Desk) How Schiff commands the smallerscale architectures is just as impressive as his mastery of the whole 30-variation span … its cogency and integrityare peerless … A spellbinding account of the Goldberg Variations!” (The Guardian). Only Concert version available: appr. 60 mins A055506910000
Hélène Grimaud – “Woodlands and beyond…”
Together with her creative and life partner, photographer Mat Hennek, French star pianist Helene Grimaud comes up with a multimedia concert project at the Grand Hall of Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie. Grimaud’s virtuoso piano performance is accompanied by Hennek’s highly praised photo series Woodlands, which depicts genuine portraits of trees, the results of numerous hikes through various forests in Europe and the USA. With works by romantic and impressionist composers, such as Luciano Berio, Nitin Sawhney, Toru Takemitsu, Franz Liszt and Claude Debussy, Grimaud leads her audience into the enchanting world of those various Woodlands and even beyond … “Grimaud is completely at ease, showing flawless clarity in her interpretations” (Die Welt).
Prokofiev – The Complete Piano Sonatas Vol. 1-4
On the occasion of Sergej Prokofiev’s 125th birthday, building on the success of the 2015 Prokofiev marathon, which featured all Piano Concertos of the Russian composer, Prokofiev specialist Valery Gergiev presented two concerts at the MPHIL 360° festival containing Prokofiev’s complete piano sonatas as well as selected sonatas by Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti. Four emerging, prizewinning piano talents from Russia and the USA were invited: Dmitry Masleev, George Li, Lukas Geniušas and Sergej Redkin. A “cunning and excentric” show, “brilliantly played” by the pianists (Süddeutsche Zeitung). PROGRAM: Vol. 1 (A 055 50614 0000, appr. 35′): Prokofiev Sonatas No. 1, No. 2 & No. 3 and Scarlatti Sonata K. 141 – Dmitry Masleev; Vol. 2 (Cat. no. A 055 50615 0000, appr. 50′): Prokofiev Sonatas No. 4 & No. 6 and Scarlatti Sonata K. 380 – George Li; Vol. 3 (A 055 50616 0000, appr. 45′): Prokofiev Sonatas No. 5 & No. 7 and Scarlatti Sonata K. 450 – Lukas Geniušas; Vol. 4 (A 055 50617 0000, appr. 60′): Prokofiev Sonatas No. 8 & No. 9 and Scarlatti Sonata K. 193 – Sergej Redkin