“Composed to a libretto by Harry Graf Kessler and Hugo von Hofmannsthal and premiered by Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes in the summer of 1914, Strauss’ Josephs Legende was one of the earliest cultural casualties of the First World War. The leads in John Neumeier’s production from 1977 are terrific, especially the sensational Judith Jamison as Potiphar’s Wife. The Wiener Philharmoniker sounds sumptuous and conductor Heinrich Hollreiser keeps the drama from dragging without getting in the way of the dancers.” (James Leonard, ALLMUSIC.com)
Schwanensee (Swan Lake)
Perhaps the most popular ballet in the world, Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” has been given a compelling new interpretation by Rudolf Nureyev. The Russian dancer, a towering figure in 20th-century ballet, placed greater emphasis on the character of Prince Siegfried. First produced in Vienna in 1964, Nureyev’s choreography has been hailed as one of the most fascinating ever. Nureyev and his partner Dame Margot Fonteyn perfectly embodied the noble and more volatile style of classical ballet performance featured here.
Wiener Philharmoniker: Tugan Sokhiev & Martha Argerich
“Glaring drama and bizarre comedy, lyrical poetry and gripping, vivid theatricality: Argerich demonstrated this par excellence in Prokofiev” (Der Standard). Under Tugan Sokhiev, the Wiener Philharmoniker presents two masterpieces of the early 20th century: Classical icon Martha Argerich interprets Sergei Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto with “great dexterity and fire” (Die Presse), “Thunderous cheers and bravos!” (Kronenzeitung). Igor Stravinsky’s ballet music “Petrushka” (1911 version) was transformed by Sokhiev “into a furious sound theatre” (Kurier). PROGRAM Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3; Scarlatti: Sonata, K.141; Stravinsky: Petrushka – Suite
Grafenegg: Midsummer Night’s Gala 2025
The Midsummer Night’s Gala heralds the start of the summer festival season every year, captivating the audience and celebrating the summer against the idyllic backdrop of the extensive castle grounds. On the Wolkenturm stage, chief conductor Fabien Gabel joins star pianist and festival director Rudolf Buchbinder for their first collaboration at Grafenegg. Buchbinder, intimately familiar with the venue, performs a movement from Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor. South African mezzo-soprano Siphokazi Molteno makes her festival debut, alongside American tenor Michael Spyres, recently named Best International Opera Singer at the Oper! Awards. The programme offers a vibrant mix of opera arias, overtures, and orchestral works, featuring Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Puccini’s Turandot, and a spotlight on French and Spanish music.
Vienna Prater Picnic Concert 2025
The Wiener Symphoniker once again welcomed the summer with their yearly open-air concert in the heart of Vienna. For the fourth time, the Kaiserwiese – set against the iconic Giant Ferris Wheel – becomes the backdrop of a shared musical experience connecting generations, styles and stories. With a cross-genre programme combining operetta, musical, jazz and pop, the orchestra traces a lively Viennese tradition that has been bringing people together since the 19th century. Bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff brought Frank Sinatra’s repertoire to life with his unmistakable voice, joined by soprano Alina Wunderlin, who moved effortlessly between classical music, operetta and jazz. Double bassist and composer Georg Breinschmid and his trio offered a jazz-inflected tribute to Johann Strauss, while singer-songwriter Lemo added a contemporary touch.
Salzburg Festival 2025: Oedipus Rex
Under Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Wiener Philharmoniker perform Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex with explosive power. The stellar cast includes Allan Clayton, Marina Viotti, Michael Volle and Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz, who “performs this speaking role with subtle restraint” (BR Klassik). The concert also features Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique “in a performance where everything is just right” (Der Standard). PROGRAM Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex; Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
Salzburg Festival 2025: Mozart – Mass in C minor
The Salzburg Festival brings Mozart’s monumental, unfinished Great Mass in C minor to St. Peter’s Abbey Church – the beautiful church for which the piece was composed and where it was probably also premiered. Gianluca Capuano conducts the orchestra Les Musiciens du Prince – Monaco and the vocal ensemble Il Canto di Orfeo. Mélissa Petit and Patricia Nolz are an “outstanding female duo” (Die Presse): Pétit’s coloraturas “sparkle like precious gems” and Nolz’s “darkly-shaded, slender soprano blends beautifully” (Salzburger Nachrichten)
Wiener Philharmoniker: Jakub Hrusa conducts Kodaly, Bartok, Dvorak
This edition of the exclusive Vienna Phil subscription concerts, conducted by young conducting superstar Jakub Hrusa, features a carefully and beautifully selected programme of Czech and Hungarian music: Hrusa seizes every opportunity to derive additional bursts of energy from the rhythm and tension of the music, savours melodic developments and spurs the Philharmonic on to soloistic high-wire acts. Kodaly’s brilliance, Bartok’s fascinating motor skills, Dvorak’s picturesque fairy-tale sounds, Janacek’s austere grandeur: an opulent and haunting combination” (Die Presse). PROGRAM Kodaly: Dances Of Galanta; Bartok: The Miraculous Mandarin; Dvorak: The Wild Dove; Janacek: Taras Bulba (Rhapsody)
Fazil Say at Mozartwoche
The singular pianist Fazil Say centers this recital during Salzburg’s Mozart Week around Bach’s monumental Goldberg Variations. Although the late Bach is cornerstone of piano music and a milestone for many pianists, Say’s unique performance manages to make even this well-known and often played work a journey of discovery for the audience: “Time and again, the listener has the sudden impression that Fazil Say has just joyfully discovered something completely new in the piece and is letting everyone share in it
with his smiling gaze” (Opera Online). Say follows up the Goldberg Variations wit Mozart’s Fantasy No. 3 and his own piano sonata “Yeni hayat” (New Life), which he composed in 2021 during the pandemic. PROGRAM Bach: Goldberg Variations; Mozart: Fantasy No. 3, K. 397, Piano Sonata No. 11; Say: Piano Sonata “Yeni hayat”
Wiener Philharmoniker: Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducts Beethoven & Strauss
Yannick Nézet-Séguin gives his successful debut at the renowned, highly exclusive subscription concerts of the Wiener Philharmoniker. Joining him is piano legend Yefim Bronfman, who lives up to his reputation: “It was gratifying to hear how, in Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto, a relaxed, silky-smooth beauty of sound repeatedly gave way to wiry accents of tension” (Der Standard). Bronfman proved an “ideal partner” (Kronenzeitung) for Nézet-Séguin and the Philharmoniker, who were “entirely in harmony with the soloist” (Die Presse). In the second half of the concert, “Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben was given a refreshingly invigorating shake-up” (Der Standard). Program: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3; Strauss: Ein Heldenleben; Debussy: Images II, III. Poissons d’or