The Odeonsplatz Concert is entertainment of the highest standard, given the world class of the artists and the quality of the programs presented here year by year. This time Valery Gergiev and the Münchner Philharmoniker present an all Beethoven programme including the Coriolan Overture and the monumental Fifth Symphony, which “becomes a profound, heroic triumph, fabulous, stunning” (Süddeutsche Zeitung). PROGRAM L.v. Beethoven: Coriolan Overture; Symphony No. 5
Anne-Sophie Mutter, Yo-Yo Ma & Daniel Barenboim
The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra celebrates its 20th anniversary by giving a concert at the Berlin Philharmonie with world-renowned artists: Anne-Sophie Mutter and Yo-Yo Ma perform Beethoven’s Triple Concerto together with Maestro Barenboim and the young musicians. Yo-Yo Ma, who played with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra at their first concert 20 years ago, and Anne-Sophie Mutter, who made her debut with the orchestra only this year, were named as honorary members of the orchestra on the occasion of this event. “It is fascinating to experience how brilliant, concentrated and at the same time relaxed these three world stars make music together and listen to each other. A masterpiece of harmony“ (RBB24). The second part of the concert features Bruckner’s 9th Symphony, transcendental music which the composer himself dedicated to “the dear God“. The symphony is unfinished not only because Bruckner died during the process of composition, but especially because it seems to perish in nothingness. The musicians of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra are excellently prepared and play technically and tonal flawlessly. A magic moment. PROGRAM Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
Mozart y Mambo
Mozart & Mambo: These musically irresistible encounters have been a long-cherished dream of Sarah Willis, hornist at the Berliner Philharmoniker, which came true with a grand concert in which she performs with the young musicians of the Havana Lyceum Orchestra and conductor José Antonio Méndez Padrón, as well as a Cuban salsa mambo band. A joint celebration of Mozart as never before seen and heard, including works such as Mozart’s beautiful Horn Concerto No. 3 and lots of Cuban rhythms! Also available the Documentary “Mozart y Mambo. A Cuban Journey with Sarah Willis” (A05551355)
Elbphiharmonie: Hengelbrock conducts Mozart and Mahler
After one of the last guest performances by piano philosopher Piotr Anderszewski with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, one impressed critic wrote: »Even the most discerning of Mozart connoisseurs were stunned.« Anderszewski can now be seen performing Mozart’s dramatic Piano Concerto in c minor at the Elbphilharmonie. The second half of the concert features Gustav Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, about which Mahler himself once said: »The Fifth is a cursed work. No one understands it.« PROGRAM Mozart: Piano Concert No. 24, KV 491; Mahler: Symphony No. 5
BPO: Dudamel conducts Bernstein & Mahler
Gustav Mahler described his Fifth Symphony as a “cursed work” that “no-one understands”. While the extreme variety of expression actually overwhelmed the audience at the time, the symphony enjoys the highest popularity today, especially thanks to ist gossamer-like Adagietto movement. Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, also conducts Leonard Bernstein’s cheeky occasional piece, Divertimento, which – here in Europe at least – is far too rarely heard. PROGRAM Mahler: Symphony No. 5; Bernstein: Divertimento for Orchestra
BR: Festive Gala with Lang Lang and Mariss Jansons
Feel like taking a world tour? Let Mariss Jansons and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks take you to Europe, America and Asia in their festive gala programme. They are joined by super star Lang Lang, who performs the dreamy Andante from Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C major as well as an excerpt from the Yellow River Concerto, a popular piece from his native China. To end the concert maestro Jansons unleashes a musical firework display with an Hungarian Dance by Brahms and Rumanian folk music by Ligeti.
BR: Pappano conducts Rachmaninoff and Bernstein
Only once has Sir Antonio Pappano been a guest of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks – time for a reunion with the British star conductor at the Philharmonie in Munich! Pappano has earned the highest reputation as long-standing music director at London’s Opera House Covent Garden and of the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome. In Munich, his extraordinary programme includes Sergei Rachmaninoff’s magnificent Second Symphony, which demonstrates the outstanding melodic qualities of the Russian composer, who is regarded as the “Last of the Romantics”. To celebrate the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein, Pappano presents the rarely heard Symphony No. 2, which shows the young American conductor and composer in search of meaning. With this work, dubbed “The Age of Anxiety”, the composer struck the nerve of the post-war generation who oscillated between loneliness and the craving for pleasure and longed for stability in faith. Kirill Gerstein, “who is emerging as one of the most respected pianists of his generation” (New York Times), gives his debut with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks in the dark, urban piece of Bernstein. As the symphony’s dazzling protagonist, he will bring his jazz experience to this highly topical piece.
Elbphiharmonie: Urbanski conducts Holst and Williams
Is this music from »Star Wars« or »E.T.«? Such questions regularly pop up when sections of the »Planets« by Gustav Holst are performed. However, it is the other way around: long before the first »talkies« were ever made, British composer Holst created these effective and visionary pieces that have remained popular ever since. PROGRAM Holst: The Planets; Williams: Soundtrack to Star Wars
The Odeonsplatz Concert 2017: Honeck & Grubinger
Munich’s Odeonsplatz Concert is one of the openair highlights of the year. Nestled in the historic city centre, between the magnificent Residenz Palace, the towering Theatinerkirche and the Feldherrnhalle, the Odeonsplatz provides the appropriate setting for an exceptional performer such as Martin Grubinger. The Austrian multi-percussionist is credited for turning classical solo percussion into an event. He demonstrates his versatility with works by Bruno Hartl, John Corigliano and Tan Dun, who wrote The Tears of Nature specifically for him. Performing at a breakneck pace, Grubinger, “a virtuoso beyond believe” (Süddeutsche Zeitung), challenges the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under Manfred Honeck to a percussion duel at the highest level. Pieces by Antonin Dvorák and Dmitri Shostakovitch complete the programme.
Odeonsplatz Concert 2017: Gergiev & Wang
Munich’s Odeonsplatz Concert is one of the open-air highlights of the year. The magnificent Residenz Palace on one side and the serene, towering Theatinerkirche on the other provide the ideal backdrop for exceptional performances of classical music. In this setting, Chinese star pianist Yuja Wang, Valery Gergiev and the Münchner Philharmoniker present a popular yet demanding concert programme. Wang performs Brahms’s First Piano Concerto “with vertiginous virtuosity, somnambulistic sovereignty, a fine sense of dramaturgy and rhythmic perfection” (Münchner Merkur). With “a secure sense for creating effects without gimmickry” (Süddeutsche Zeitung), Gergiev conducts Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, before closing with popular encores from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Glinka’s Ruslan and Lyudmila. PROGRAM: Brahms: First Piano Concerto; Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition