The Staatsoper Berlin invited Marc Minkowski and his brilliant orchestra Les Musiciens du Louvre, for a new production of Mozart’s early work. Mozart was only 14 years old when he was commissioned to compose a large, full-length opera seria. The story of a declining king and warlord whose two very different sons love the same woman, who is also his bride, inspired Mozart to write music that knows strong passions as well as deeply felt emotions. He drew on tradition and yet already showed himself to be at a height that more than foreshadowed what was to come. The premiere at the end of 1770 became a triumph for the youthful composer. Minkowski and his incredible cast and ensemble made it again a complete showcase of all Mozart operas. The Japanese production team led by director Satoshi Miyagi immerses Mozart’s Mitridate in an enchanting ambience that lets different worlds converge. “Marc Minkowski and his brilliant orchestra Les Musiciens du Louvre […] a real coup.” (Tagesspiegel)
Mitridate, re di Ponto
The Staatsoper Berlin presents a new production of Mozart’s early masterpiece Mitridate, re di Ponto. This captivating tale of love, power and betrayal revolves around a king and his two sons who vie for the love of the same woman. Under the baton of Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre bring fresh energy and nuance to Mozart’s intricate opera seria, while the all-star cast shines with an impressive vocal range. In a staging where different worlds converge, director Satoshi Miyagi and his Japanese production team have created an atmosphere that is nothing short of magical. “Marc Minkowski and his brilliant orchestra Les Musiciens du Louvre […] a real coup.” (Tagesspiegel) “Singing feats of brilliance!” (Berliner Zeitung)
Stars of Tomorrow presented by Rolando Villazon – Episode 7
PROGRAM: Gioachino Rossini: Overture from Der Barbier von Sevilla // Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 – Allegro molto vivace
Soloist: Fanny Clamagirand // Charles Gounod: “Depuis hier…Que fais-tu blanche tourterelle” from Roméo et Juliette (Soloist: Angela Brower) // Philip Glass: Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra – 4th movement (sonic.art saxophone quartet) // Michael Nyman: Songs for Tony (sonic.art saxophone quartet) // Vincenzo Bellini: “Qui la voce” from I Puritani (Soloist: Pretty Yende) // Camille Saint-Saëns: Der Schwan from Karneval der Tiere (Soloists: Fanny Clamagirand & Vanya Cohen) // Cole Porter: “So in Love” from Kiss me, Kate (Soloist: Yvonne Gesler) // Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Overture from Le nozze di Figaro // Federico Moreno Torroba “¡Cállate corazón!” from Luisa Fernanda (Soloists: Angela Brower & Rolando Villazón)
Der Rosenkavalier
When Strauss and Hofmannsthal wrote «Der Rosenkavalier» – setting it in an imaginary Rococo Vienna and yet closely linked to the decadent fin de siècle – they created a profound social comedy. It is not without melancholy that the Marschallin lets her young lover Octavian go when he falls head over heels with Sophie, who hails from Faninal’s bourgeois household. As voluptuous as Strauss’ score is, it contains tender moments of dream and melancholy. Director Lydia Steier stages Strauss’ opera according to an aesthetic concept by Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein. Diana Damrau sings the Marschallin. Joana Mallwitz conducts the Orchester der Oper Zürich.