Juan Diego Flórez could savour the sweet glory of a star tenor to the full. He could concentrate on a handful of parade roles to play his trump cards: the brilliant top notes, the striking coloratura skill, the stylish art of phrasing. But the tenor looks beyond his own art and also pursues a social mission. Having founded the “Sinfonía por el Perú” in his home country, an educational project, he offers children from disadvantaged families a musical education. Together with conductor Roberto González-Monjas, Juan Diego Flórez and “his” orchestra perform a diverse programme that spans from Bel canto to Spanish Zarzuela. The fervour of the young classics sweeps the audience along, double basses are whirled, the strings do the wave and stand dancing from the desks. Euphoric! “Flórez and his youth orchestra: With ardour, diligence and tears” (Salzburger Nachrichten)
Wiener Philharmoniker, Zubin Mehta & Martha Argerich
Zubin Mehta and Martha Argerich return with Schumann’s only piano concerto and Bruckner’s fourth symphony in an exclusive Subscription Series concert to the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna – the city where both received important impulses for their musical education in the 1950s. More than half a century later, the Indian conductor and the Argentinean pianist are among those artistic personalities who have succeeded in leaving a lasting mark on the fast-moving classical music world. Their artistic achievements represent a piece of cultural memory of the 20th and 21st centuries and are still impressively alive. “The Power of true Old Masters – Martha Argerich sat at the piano
as spiritedly sparkling as ever. Just as Bruckner’s Fourth subsequently succeeded in becoming a magnificent dialogue between orchestra and conductor: Bruckner impulsive, intimate, poignant, stirring.” (Kronen Zeitung)
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
Christian Thielemann conducts Bruckner & Strauss
“The Vienna Philharmonic, conductor Christian Thielemann and composer Anton Bruckner – this is a combination that music lovers can really enjoy.” (Kurier) Christian Thielemann has become known as an expert in late Romantic repertoire. In this concert, he conducts one of the least performed Bruckner Symphonies, the sixth, which will be heard, along with Richard Strauss’s melancholy, serene Four Last Songs with Camilla Nylund. The program is part of the first Bruckner cycle with Christian Thielemann and the Wiener Philharmoniker. PROGRAM: R. Strauss: Malven (arranged by Wolfgang Rihm), Vier letzte Lieder; A. Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A major, WAB 106
¡Cincuentañero! – Rolando Villazón’s 50th Birthday Gala
Rolando Villazón assembles his friends, all of them prominent guests, for a festive gala concert. The first part of the performance is dedicated to his musical heartfelt friend Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, followed by “hits” from opera, operetta and popular songs from Europe and Mexico in the second part. The singers are accompanied by the Camerata Salzburg under Lithuanian conductor Giedre Šlekyte. “A showcase of great operatic voices” (Salzburger Nachrichten)
Diana Damrau and Jonas Kaufmann – Lieder
Diana Damrau and Jonas Kaufmann interpret love songs by the two important romantic song composers Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. In their concert evening full of stirring emotions, the stars of the classical world sing of love in all its facets: from reverie and longing, from the happiness of fulfilment to disappointment, resignation and renunciation. The two artists are accompanied by their longtime partner on the piano, Helmut Deutsch.“A deeply felt, rapturous performance” (The Guardian)
Grafenegg: Midsummer Night’s Gala 2022
“A nonchalant Erwin Schrott (baritone), a stormy Marlies Petersen (soprano) and a stunning Selina Ott, who does somersaults with her trumpet. Conclusion: A summer night dance over the rainbow! ” (Niederösterreichische Nachrichten) A splendid start to the open air season, full of pathos and tender whispers: every year the Midsummer Night’s Gala in Grafenegg strikes the most beautiful notes of the opera and concert repertoire. As the sun slowly descends behind the castle, the colourful sound of the Tonkunstler Orchestra ascends from the Wolkenturm, captivating listeners with its commitment and the best soloists from all over the world. In 2022, two important voices will be heard with the German soprano Marlis Peterson, who has gained international attention with her creative power, and the Uruguayan-Spanish bassbaritone Erwin Schrott, who will enchant listeners with his rich tone. These two international stars are joined by the young trumpet virtuoso Selina Ott, who is on the verge of conquering the world’s great concert halls.
Salzburg Festival 2021: Blomstedt conducts Honegger & Brahms
Now in his nineties, Herbert Blomstedt, former conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, is still a powerful interpreter of the symphonic repertoire. His programme with the Vienna Philharmonic is straightforward: it begins with Honegger’s brilliant Third Symphony and ends with Brahms’ Fourth. The eminent maestro, one of the orchestra’s favourites since his debut at the 2011 Salzburg Mozart Week, continues to enchant audiences with his enormous presence, verve and artistic drive. “At the end, standing ovations and boundless cheers.” (br-klassik.de) PROGRAM Honegger: Symphony No. 3 “Liturgique”; Brahms: Symphony No. 4
Salzburg Festival 2021: Gardiner conducts Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Sir John Eliot Gardiner and his Monteverdi Choir have a long-standing artistic partnership with the Salzburg Festival. With music by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy to Goethe’s “Walpurgis Night” and Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Gardiner once again turns his attention to romantic music and confronts two great literary texts: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s ballad “The First Walpurgis Night” inspired the composer’s vivid depiction of the conflict between an ancient pagan community and the new aspirations of Christianisation, between faith and superstition on both sides. For Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to the play of the same name by William Shakespeare the Monteverdi Choir is joined by seven top-class singers. PROGRAM: Mendelssohn Bartholdy: “Die erste Walpurgisnacht”; “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Salzburg Festival 2021: Thomas Zehetmair plays Bach
In the Great Hall of the Mozarteum, the Austrian violinist creates one of the most impressive concert dates of the Salzburg Festival 2021 with his solo concert. Zehetmair performs Johann Sebastian Bach’s six-part composition in a very profound way, making the epochal work with its many levels also a very personal, artistic statement. This makes the concert an overwhelming experience of over two hours. “A Zen master makes Bach shine. Thomas Zehetmair handles the work for solo violin uncompromisingly well.” (Salzburger Nachrichten) PROGRAM Bach: The complete Sonatas and Partitas