A special gala concert from Berlin showcases a galaxy of new stars. Joana Mallwitz conducts the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and is joined by a brilliant array of soloists: Bomsori, Kian Soltani and Rafal Blechacz take the stage for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto; Andrè Schuen sings Mahler’s “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen”, and Bruce Liu is the piano soloist in Beethoven’s boundary-breaking Choral Fantasy, also featuring the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin. Further works by Beethoven and Brahms complete the programme for what promises to be an unforgettable concert. PROGRAM Brahms: Akademische Festouvertüre; Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Choral Fantasy, Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
Bach 300 – Tribute to Bach
An array of musical stars converges in Leipzig to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach taking up his appointment as Kantor at the city’s iconic Thomaskirche – a post that he occupied for more than a quarter of a century, covering a period in which he created many of his greatest works. Among those performing on a special open-air stage in the city’s market square are pianist Lang Lang, violinist Daniel Hope, cellist Sophie Kauer and oboist Albrecht Mayer, joined by the Thomanerchor and the Gewandhausorchester under current Thomaskantor Andreas Reize. Join us for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration!
Joe Hisaishi in Concert
Is it a coincidence that so many of the top grossing Japanese films have a score written by Joe Hisaishi? He was a long-term collaborator of legendary Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, as well as Takeshi Kitano. During the concert evening, he presents highlights of his works, such as the symphonic suite for the anime film “Princess Mononoke”, the film compositions for the Kitano films “Kikujiro’s Summer”, “HA-NA-BI” and “Kids Return” as well as his “Symphony No. 2”. This concert in the sold-out Golden Hall of Vienna’s legendary Musikverein is a chance to dive into the fascinating world of a multi-faceted artist, at once composer, conductor, pianist, and lyricist – an unmissable event!
Vikingur Olafsson: Bach’s Goldberg Variations
Víkingur Ólafsson goes back to Bach for his highly anticipated new recording. Celebrated for his visionary interpretations of the composer’s music, the Icelandic pianist follows up the award-winning Johann Sebastian Bach of 2018 with this stunning recording of the Goldberg Variations, a work he’s dreamed of recording for 25 years. “At least to me, the Goldberg Variations’ genius lies not in the general, but the specific,” says Ólafsson. “As each variation unfolds, one must be wholly gripped by its individual drama and affect, drawn into its own marvellous little microcosm and filled with the joy of discovering it.” As part of a tour taking the work to venues around the world, this concert sees Ólafsson perform it to music-lovers in the South Korean capital.
Hélène Grimaud & Konstantin Krimmel
The turbine hall on Lake Stienitz, a striking industrial monument near Berlin, is the site of an extraordinary musical collaboration. Celebrated pianist Hélène Grimaud and rising star baritone Konstantin Krimmel come together in a unique space where nature and industry converge. The once-noisy hall now resonates with the sounds of the most direct and intimate of musical genres – the song. The duo presents a program that includes Brahms‘ Lieder und Gesänge op. 32, as well as a selection of the contemplative Stille Lieder by Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov. Grimaud has been a champion of Silvestrov‘s music for more than two decades, and the selection of his songs adds a deeply meditative dimension to the program. The setting for this recording is a testament to the power of artistic collaboration to transform spaces and bring new life to old structures. Against the backdrop of unspoilt nature and a historic industrial site, Grimaud and Krimmel create a musical experience that is both timeless and deeply rooted in its surroundings. PROGRAM Brahms: Lieder und Gesänge op. 32; Silvestrov: Silent Songs (selection)
Pretty Yende & Nadine Sierra – Women’s Day Concert 2023
Two sopranos among the rising stars in the field, Pretty Yende and Nadine Sierra, in a recital of arias and duets, accompanied by the Les Frivolités Parisiennes, conducted by Giacomo Sagripanti. A Women’s Day Concert 2023 filmed in the Philharmonie de Paris.
Bryn Terfel – Songs of the Sea
The Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel takes us to his home country Wales in his new project “Songs of the Sea”. The wildly romantic coast is the starting point for a musical journey through Wales, England, Ireland, New Zealand and French Brittany. We experience Bryn in authentic locations, such as in a historic church, in a pub and on the cliffs of the Atlantic. With friends and companions like the Welsh instrumental ensemble Calan and other guests, he sings and plays hits like “What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor”, “Wellerman”, but also very authentic songs from the life of sailors. The musical performance is framed by Bryn’s explanations of the history of these shanties and sea songs, the deprived Welsh life, the emigration story to the New World and his own 57-year biography.
Lang Lang: My Favourite Melodies
What are the main features of a touching melody? World famous pianist Lang Lang takes us to a personal journey through his favourite melodies, from Beethoven “Für Elise”, Debussy “Clair de Lune”, J.S. Bach and Johannes Brahms to the most beautiful movies’ soundtracks. Filmed in unique locations in Paris, the Chinese pianist’s performances of Disney pieces such as “The Bare Necessities” from The Jungle Book, the Beauty and the Beast’s “Theme” and The Muppet Show, to Yann Tiersen “Amélie”, are able to captivate the listener’s fantasy and awake some of the best childhood memories.
Yuja Wang – The Vienna Recital
Pianist Yuja Wang has become an integral part of the world‘s major stages, inspiring young and old alike. Her playing displays technical brilliance and a seemingly endless range of emotions. The Piano Recital from the Wiener Konzerthaus allows her to display her fiery virtuosity as well as her mature musicality and imagination with an eclectic, personally chosen program. It combines masterpieces from famous works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Alexander Scriabin to lesser-known compositions by György Ligeti and Nikolai Kapustin, including also sublime musical miniatures by Christoph Willibald Gluck and Philip Glass. A historical milestone that is not to be missed! „The hall went wild!“ (Der Standard)
Hélène Grimaud plays Mozart and Schumann at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
Mozart did not write many works in minor tonalities, but those that he did were particularly impactful. They are also the ones that French pianist Hélène Grimaud most enjoys spending time with because they “provide a glimpse behind the mask of jollity that surrounds many of his famous works.” Selecting pieces that are all in minor keys yet composed during intensely creative periods in both Mozart’s and Schumann’s careers, Grimaud takes an insightful look at the composers and their popularity at the time. Grimaud’s performance in the beautiful hall of Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie is a symbolic representation of an encounter with fate, where drama and tragedy meet, and an apt reminder that not all is as it seems. PROGRAM Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20, K. 466; Symphony No. 40, K. 550; Schumann: Piano Concerto, Op. 54; Silvestrov: The Messenger (For Piano solo)