Wiener Philharmoniker & Welser-Möst: Mahler 9

An event – and not only for the listeners, but also for the orchestra as Philharmonic board member Daniel Froschauer emphasizes “This is an incredible work – really written for us. Mahler really pushes the limits in this piece!” Gustav Mahler and the Wiener Philharmoniker have indeed a very special relationship. Not only did the great composer, who was conductor and head of the Vienna State Opera, conduct the Wiener Philharmoniker regularly and – from 1898 to 1901 – even the famed Subscription Concert Series. The orchestra also premiered Mahler’s 9th Symphony in June 1912 – one year after the composer’s death. Bruno Walter conducted the world premiere, for this concert it is Austrian conductor Franz Welser-Möst, someone whom knows the orchestra better than most other conductors.

Salzburg Festival 2021: Nelsons conducts Mahler No. 3

Praised as an “exuberant, intoxicating conductor” (Boston Globe), Grammy Award-winning Andris Nelsons is one of the most renowned and innovative conductors on the international scene today and his connection with the Vienna Philharmonic is something special: he has developed a physical language with the players whose musical partner he has been since 2010. At the 2021 Salzburg Festival edition, Andris Nelsons and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra continue their acclaimed Mahler cycle with the Third Symphony. PROGRAM Mahler: Symphony No. 3

Thielemann conducts Bruckner No. 3

For the very first time in the orchestra’s history, the Wiener Philharmoniker have engaged themselves to a complete Bruckner Cycle and chose the renowned Bruckner expert Christian Thielemann as conductor. The first recordings met with great enthusiasm and approval. “Only the highest musical perfection sounds like this” (Kurier). Bruckner’s program is greatness, pathos, sublimity. “With their warm string and beautiful brass sound, the Wiener Philharmoniker are ideal partners for him” (BR Klassik). The large-scale Bruckner Cycle extends to the composer’s 200th birthday in 2024. The Wiener Philharmoniker, who premiered four of the nine Bruckner Symphonies, are more familiar with this music than any other orchestra.

Thielemann conducts Bruckner No. 1

For the first time in the orchestra’s history, the Wiener Philharmoniker have engaged themselves to a complete Bruckner cycle and have invited worldwide renowned Bruckner expert Christian Thielemann to take the podium. The performance of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 1 is part of this large-scale Bruckner cycle, which extends to the composer’s 200th birthday in 2024. “Unheard-of luxury” Wiener Zeitung

Thielemann conducts Bruckner No. 5

To mark Anton Bruckner’s bicentenary in 2024, Christian Thielemann, the Wiener Philharmoniker and Unitel are recording the first Bruckner cycle with a single conductor in the orchestra’s history. Under Christian Thielemann’s baton the sound is resonant and glowing, the buildup of tension and release perceptively handled and each solo is impeccably played by some of the world’s best musicians. “The interpretation of the Fifth may also be considered a milestone. The way the musicians realized this work was simply magnificent.” Kurier

Thielemann conducts Bruckner No. 8

For the very first time in its history, the Wiener Philharmoniker are performing a complete Bruckner cycle with worlwide renowned Bruckner expert Christian Thielemann at the podium. The eighth symphony are part of this large-scale Bruckner Cycle, which extends to the composer‘s 200th birthday in 2024, performed at Vienna’s beautiful Musikverein. The orchestra, which premiered four of the nine Bruckner symphonies, is more familiar with this music than any other ensemble. Bruckner’s powerful and sonically grandiose symphonies never cease to amaze. The reactions to the concert of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8 were no less enthusiastic:”It couldn’t be better and more ravishing” (Kurier).

Salzburg Festival 2013: Dudamel conducts Mahler 8 “Symphony of a Thousand”

The “Mahler Cycle” of Salzburg Festival 2013 is opened by Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in E flat conducted by Gustavo Dudamel who leads “his” Simón Bolívar National Youth Orchestra & Choir of Venezuela, joined by a cast of internationally acclaimed soloists. The concert is also part of the visionary and exemplary project EL Sistema (The Miracle), based on the visionary idea of giving children a better future through classical music by building a network of children orchestras and music centres.

The Solti Centenary Concert

The renowned World Orchestra for Peace honors with this very special concert the 100th birthday of ist founder Sir Georg Solti – celebrating the story of Solti‘s musical life with works that were of special significance, such as MOZART’s Figaro overture STRAUSS’ tone poem Don Juan, the Adagietto from MAHLER’s Symphony No. 5, Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and select arias and ensembles from operas by MOZART and VERDI. It is presented and linked from the stage by his widow, Lady Valerie Solti. The concert features Valery Gergiev as conductor of the World Orchestra for Peace and worldclass soloists Angela Gheorghiu and René Pape together with outstanding young alumni of the Solti Foundation and the Solti Accademia di Bel Canto established after his death.

Andris Nelsons – Boston Symphony: Inaugural Concert

This event celebrates the start of Andris Nelsons’ tenure as the 15th music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and features two of the conductor’s close colleagues, the acclaimed Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais and the outstanding German tenor Jonas Kaufmann. Singing’s selections from the Wagnerian and the Italian verismo repertoires, they join forces for a powerful duet from Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. The concert opens with Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture – the work that first inspired a five year old Nelsons to a life in music – and closes with Respighi’s spectacular orchestral showcases “Pines of Rome”.