Barrie Kosky, one of the most exciting opera directors of our time, opened his newly staged Da Ponte cycle at the Wiener Staatsoper with a character-driven new production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Kyle Ketelsen in the title role and Philippe Sly as Leporello “took centre stage (…) and dared to satirise the burden of tradition” (ORF). Hanna- Elisabeth Müller is a compelling Donna Anna, Patricia Nolz gives a remarkable role debut as Zerlina, and Peter Kellner shines as Masetto. Kate Lindsey presents a fascinating character study as Donna Elvira, and Stanislas de Barbeyrac excels as Don Ottavio. Philippe Jordan conducts the Orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper, bringing “transparency, tangibility and poetry on the basis of historical accuracy” (Der Standard) – even in the subtly played recitatives on the fortepiano. “Kosky and Jordan met congenially in the direction of the singers.” (ORF)
Don Giovanni
In the first installment of his Da Ponte cycle at the Vienna State Opera, director Barrie Kosky does what he does best. He focuses the action completely on the characters. “I think characters like Don Giovanni are like mirrors in which we see ourselves. Sometimes like distorting mirrors, sometimes like broken mirrors. Sometimes the image we see is unappetizing”. Indeed, Kosky’s character direction is “impressive” (Klassikpunk), as he uncovers new facets and puts great faith in the singers to deliver his vision. Kyle Ketelsen as Don Giovanni (“vibrant” – Der Standard) and Philippe Sly as Leporello “took centre stage (…) and dared to satirise the burden of tradition” (ORF). Hanna-Elisabeth Müller is “convincing” as Donna Anna and the young Patricia Nolz gives an excellent role debut as Zerlina alongside the “virtuosic” Peter Keller as Masetto. Conductor Philippe Jordan “plays the recitatives delicately and subtly on the fortepiano” and “achieves transparency, tangibility and poetry on the basis of historical accuracy” (Der Standard).
W.A. Mozart: Davide penitente – Bartabas & Marc Minkowski
For this spectacular production of Mozart’s Davide penitente on the vast stage of the Salzburg Felsenreitschule at the Mozart Week 2015, Marc Minkowski and the equestrian choreographer Bartabas used dancing horses and thus restored the former riding school to its original function. Horses, riders from the Académie équestre de Versailles and Bartabas himself, whose successful productions are unique in the world of art, perform their elegant dressage arabesques within this exceptional setting. Soloists, chorus and orchestra are ranged over three levels on galleries cut from the bare rock. The result is a unique synthesis of the arts.
“A festival of beauty”. (Münchener Abendzeitung)
“Minkowski and Bartabas have created a great piece of theatre”. (NMZ)
Vienna Advent Concert at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
The Christmas concert of the Wiener Symphoniker in St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a wonderful way to get in the mood for Christmas. It opens the heart and makes one ready to welcome Christ in every person. For this concert French conductor Fabien Gabel presents timeless oratorio classics by Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel, as well as romantic church music by Gioachino Rossini, Giacomo Puccini and Hector Berlioz. The soloists are soprano Elsa Benoît, tenor Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Diana Tishchenko on violin and ARD Music Prize winner Selina Ott on trumpet. In addition, the Wiener Sängerknaben and the Chorus Viennensis created a Christmas atmosphere in the festively decorated cathedral. Programme: Bach: Magnificat, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen; Handel: Overture to Samson, Thus when the sun, Awake the trumpet lovely sound, Let the Bright Seraphim; Puccini: Preludio sinfonico; Rossini: Domine Deus from Petite messe solenelle; Berlioz: L’Adieu des bergers à la Sainte Famille from L’Enfance du Christ; Massenet: Méditation from Thaïs; Glasunov: Album leaf; Schreker: Valse lente; Strauss: Wiegenlied (Lullaby); Anonymus: Adeste fideles
Le Concert de Paris 2022
It is now a well-established tradition: every year, on July 14, the Orchestre National de France welcomes the summer with a large musical gathering at the foot of the Eiffel Tower with stunning fireworks! Conducted by Cristian Macelaru, and accompanied by the Chorus of Radio France, the orchestra invites the audience around the world and thousands of people on the spot, to experience great arias and famous concert pieces in the company of prestigious soloists like Alice Sara Ott, Nadine Sierra, Lea Desandre, Stanislas de Barbeyrac, Gautier Capuçon Erwin Schrott and Leonidas Kavakos.