Mahler’s Eighth Symphony is agruably the grandest and most ambitious piece of symphonic music ever written. The composer himself regarded it as his ‘opus summum’, and an incredible number of partipicians at the hugely successful Munich premiere in 1910 earned it the nickname ‘Symphony of a Thousand’. At Leipzig’s International Mahler Festival 2011, Riccardo Chailly commanded almost 500 musicians. The perfomance celebrated overwhelming success by audience and critics.
Claudio Abbado conducts the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra
The Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela was the orchestra in residence at the Lucerne Festival at Easter 2010. Under the baton of their strong supporter Claudio Abbado, the orchestra once again reaches out to the audience on this special evening, spreading its lively enthusiasm at highest musical level, it is both famous and loved for. After a brilliant performance of Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite Op. 20, the ensemble is accompanied by the young and talented Austrian soprano Anna Prohaska. The evening is concluded by a most emotional interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathétique’.
Mahler – Symphony No. 4
Concert on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bernard Haitink’s collaboration with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. On the programme Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with German soprano Christine Schäfer as soloist.
Berlin Philharmonic – Wagner Gala – New Year’s Eve Concert 1993
The 1993 New Year’s Eve Gala of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is dedicated to Richard Wagner. On the programme: ‘Tannhäuser’: Ouverture, Act II Aria ‘Dich teure Halle’, Act III Song to the Evening Star, ‘Lohengrin’: ‘In ferner Einsamkeit des Waldes’ (Act II),’ Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg’: Prelude to Act I, Aria ‘Was duftet doch der Flieder (Act II), ‘Die Walküre’: ‘Der Männer Sippe’ (Act I), The Ride of the Valkyries (Act III).
Tchaikovsky Gala from Leningrad
Gala in commemoration of the 150th birthday of Peter Tchaikovsky. On the programme: Eugen Onegin: Polonaise / Sérénade mélancolique, Op. 26 / Valse scherzo, Op. 34 / Chansons francaises, Op. 65, for Voice and Piano / Sérénade, No. 1 / Rondel, No. 6 / Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 / Jeanne d’Arc (La Pucelle d’Orléans) / Adieu, forets / 1812 Overture, Op 49.