With multiple critically-acclaimed symphonic cycles already under their collective belt, The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and its artistic director Paavo Järvi follow up their 2009 Beethoven cycle and 2011 Schumann cycle with a Brahms cycle! In concerts at Paris’s Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, they present all of Brahms’s symphonic masterpieces. “A Brahms revelation” The New York Times
Paavo Järvi conducts Escaich, Widmann & Saint-Saens
The spectacular new Rieger organ of the Philharmonie de Paris is inaugurated with solo, ensemble, and symphonic works starring Paavo Järvi at the rostrum of the Orchestre de Paris and Thierry Escaich, Titular Organist and with that successor of Maurice Duruflé at Paris Saint-Étienne-du-Mont. The new organ with close to 7000 handmade pipes, 15 meters high and 20 meters wide, with 91 stops on four manuals and pedal specially designed for the symphonic repertory, is heard for the first time at this festive performance. PROGRAM Escaich: Organ Improvisation; Widmann: Viola Concerto (World Premiere); Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 “Organ Symphony”
Hengelbrock conducts Bach and Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Thomas Hengelbrock and the Orchestre de Paris teamed up to perform one of the most brilliant works of European church music: J.S. Bach’s Magnificat. This opus is a musical setting of the biblical canticle Magnificat, which is one of the most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn, frequently sung liturgically in Christian church services. Following this, the musicians draw the attention of the audience to the content and structural parallels between Bach and Felix Mendelssohn, who has rendered outstanding services to the revivification of the interest in music of J.S. Bach. The musicians delight the audience with the Psalm 42 and the Christmas Cantata, two compositions full of religious fervor.
Paris: Harding conducts Berg and Mahler
It was the death of 18-year-old Manon Gropius, the daughter of Alma Mahler and Walter Gropius, which spurred Alban Berg to compose his violin concerto Dem Andenken eines Engels (To the Memory of an Angel). This concerto is played by multiple awarded German violinist Isabell Faust, who has been praised by New York Times: “Her sound has passion, grit and electricity but also a disarming warmth and sweetness that can unveil the music’s hidden strains of lyricism.” The violin concerto is followed by György Kurtág’s Doloroso. As third part of the programme, the Orchestre de Paris performs Mahler’s 4th Symphony, built around the song “Das himmlische Leben” (The Heavenly Life) from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, presenting a child’s vision of Heaven. The soprano solo is sung by Christina Landshamer.
Paris: Hommage à Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez, a seminal figure in the field of contemporary classical music, died on January 5th 2016. His name is closely connected to the Orchestre de Paris, which he has conducted more than a hundred times, and to the Philharmonie de Paris, whose “Grande Salle Pierre Boulez” was brought into existence due to his continuous endeavor.Two weeks after Boulez’ death, supported by young musicians from the Conservatoire de Paris, the Orchestra de Paris joined forces with the Ensemble Intercontemporain and the IRCAM – both founded by Pierre Boulez – in order to pay him tribute. The programme of this very special evening features a varied selection of the composer’s works. As a result of the concert night, “one simple word comes up, full of enthusiasm and emotion: merci…” (Bachtrack). PROGRAM: Pierre Boulez: Dialogue de l’ombre double extraits; Improvisation I; Messagesquisse; Dérive 1 pour six instruments; Improvisation II; Notations pour orchestre I, IV, III, II, VII
Barenboim conducts Bruckner Symphony No. 1
Daniel Barenboim – conductor, pianist, all-round musician – has been exploiting the impact of cyclical performances of composers’ works for several years now, with cycles of Beethoven’s symphonies and piano concertos, Wagner’s operas, Schoenberg’s orchestral works and, in conjunction with Pierre Boulez, Mahler’s symphonies. With the performance of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 1 at the Philharmonie de Paris, he completes his Bruckner Cycle with the Staatskapelle Berlin. Bruckner’s symphonies have
“rarely been performed so passionately” (Altamusica). As part of the performance of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 1, the maestro also conducted violinist Wolfram Brandl and
violist Yulia Deyneka in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, available as separate programme in the catalogue A01550081 (30 mins)
Barenboim conducts Bruckner Symphony No. 2
Daniel Barenboim – conductor, pianist, all-round musician – has been exploiting the impact of cyclical performances of composers’ works for several years now, with cycles of Beethoven’s symphonies and piano concertos, Wagner’s operas, Schoenberg’s orchestral works and, in conjunction with Pierre Boulez, Mahler’s symphonies. With the performance of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 2 at the Philharmonie de Paris, he completes his Bruckner Cycle with the Staatskapelle Berlin. Bruckner’s symphonies have
“rarely been performed so passionately” (Altamusica).
Ravel, Boléro
Vivaldi, Concerto per la Solennità di San Lorenzo in C major, RV 556 (Carinthian Summer 1979)
Recorded live at the Carinthian Summer Festival on 27 August 1979, this concert features soloists from the orchestra of Milan’s Teatro alla Scala under the direction of Claudio Abbado. One of the leading conductors of our time, Abbado was music director and artistic director of the Scala until 1986 before shifting his focus to Vienna (music director of the Vienna State Opera from 1986-1991) and, later, Berlin. Since 1969, the Carinthian Summer in Ossiach, Austria, has been presenting internationally acclaimed soloists and ensembles in splendid Alpine settings. A particularly opulent venue is the Baroque monastery church of Ossiach, where this concert was filmed.
Paavo Järvi and Rudolf Buchbinder: Dvorák, Beethoven
Before the New World Symphony and the Requiem there were the Symphonic Variations and Dvorák’s Symphony No. 8. The Symphonic Variations are as original as they are rarely performed, and blend seamlessly into this symphony. Composed a full decade before the symphony, Dvorák’s variations last no more than two minutes each. The symphony itself is full of surprises and gives a rarely seen glimpse into the mind and work of this agile and energetic composer. Beethoven’s Concerto No. 3 rounds out the evening at the Orchestre de Paris with a performance by Rudolf Buchbinder, one of Paavo Järvi’s close collaborators and one of piano’s rare talents. —– Program: Antonín DVORÁK, Symphonic Variations, Op. 78; Ludwig van BEETHOVEN, Piano Concerto No. 3, in C minor, Op. 37; Antonín DVORÁK, Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88