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.
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).
Salonen conducts Bartók
Live from the awe-inspiring new Philharmonie de Paris, the French capital’s elite orchestra performs a programme devoted to the endlessly fascinating music of Béla Bartók. On the podium is Esa-Pekka Salonen, one of the composer’s truly authoritative interpreters. This concert was hailed as “revelatory” by the leading French journal Diapason, “a unique expressive and sensory voyage (…) with precise phrasing and incredible flexibility (…) an irresistible feeling for timbre, tightropewalking accents, acoustic spaces, instrumental breathing (…) rhythmic agility, range of sensitive colours, humour and irony, brilliance, luminosity, moments of astonishing sweetness. The Orchestre de Paris soared and surpassed itself. Salonen is clearly a unique artist.” PROGRAM Bartok: Dance Suite; Concerto for two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra; Concerto for Orchestra
Le Ballet royal de la nuit
A unique and extravagant spectacle at the crossroads of opera, ballet and artistry, captured on film for the very first time: Conductor Sébastien Daucé recreates the Sun King’s opulent Ballet royal de la nuit and evokes the splendour of the 17th century’s French court at the Théâtre de Caen. To recreate this total work of art, which brings together music and imagery, lavish decorations and opulent costumes, Daucé enlists the help of 20 singers, twelve acrobats and three jugglers as well as dancer Sean Patrick Mombruno and the musicians of Ensemble Correspondance, distinguished specialists in the music of the French Grand Siècle. And when Ballet royal de la nuit culminates in the rise of the radiating Sun, there’s nothing left but “unreserved admiration” (Le Monde) for this “exquisite Gesamtkunstwerk” (Welt.de). “A king-like, no, a veritable Sun-King-like delight!” (br.de)