Paavo Järvi conducts Mahler: The Symphony Cycle

„Mahler’s heaven’s gates open“ exults the press on the occasion of Mahler’s first symphony, presented by Paavo Järvi and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra during the Rheingau Music Festival, as part of a multi-year cycle “at the highest niveau” (FAZ). Not only with this one, but with each individual symphony, succeeds Järvi, “the musical dramatist of superior vision” (FAZ) to excite the audience. Also in Mahler’s Eighth, he creates “richness of colour, depth and a visionary force that literally sweeps the listener” (FAZ). And so it is this very cycle that „contributes significantly to the rise of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra into the top group of German Radio Orchestras” (FAZ) and with which they reinforce their reputation as Mahler specialists. The Rheingau Music Festival provides for the Mahler cycle, not least for the “Symphony of a Thousand” the ideal stage: it is one of Europe’s largest music festivals with numerous concerts in churches and palaces, among others the very prestigious performing arts centers Kloster Eberbach and the Frankfurt Opera House. Programme includes Symphonys 1-10.

Richard Strauss – Birthday Gala

Richard Strauss premiered nine of his fifteen operas at the Semperoper Dresden – this unique relationship was celebrated with a special gala in honour of the composer’s 150th birthday in 2014, featuring the famous arias from Elektra, Salome, Arabella, Die ägyptische Helena and Daphne as well as orchestral music from Der Rosenkavalier, Intermezzo and Die schweigsame Frau. —– Program: Der Rosenkavalier, Waltz Suites 1 & 2 / Elektra, Monologue / Feuersnot, Love Scene / Salome, Final Scene / Arabella, Final Scene Act I / Intermezzo, 2nd Orchestral Interlude / Die ägyptische Helena, “Zweite Brautnacht” / Die schweigsame Frau, Potpourri Overture / Daphne, Final Scene

The Odeonsplatz Concert – “Russian Night”

The 2014 open air concert with Mariss Jansons and the Balalaika-ensemble Terem-Quartet from the stunning Odeonsplatz in Munich includes works by Pjotr Iljitsch TCHAIKOVSKY: Capriccio Italien op. 45, Alexander TCHAIKOVSKY: Garden Symphony – Concert for Balalaika-quartet and orchestra (dedicated to Mariss Jansons – world premiere) / Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH: Festive Overture, op. 96 / Aram KHATCHATURIAN: Music from “Spartakus” and “Gayaneh” / Alexander GLASUNOV: Music from “Raymonda” / Nikolai RIMSKY-KOSRAKOV: Capriccio espagnol

From War To Peace

This documentary celebrates 20 years of the World Orchestra for Peace (1995-2015 ), with excerpts from the 2014 UNESCO Concert for Peace at the BBC Proms, with works by Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss and Roxanna Panufnik, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Also featured are a rare archive of Georg Solti with Richard Strauss (1949), Solti’s 80th birthday concert at Buckingham Palace (1992) with additional contributions from Irina Bokova (UNESCO Director-General) and many leading players of the World Orchestra for Peace.

Daniel Barenboim – My Time at the Bayreuth Festival

Daniel Barenboim appeared 161 times on the stage of the Bayreuther Festspielhaus between 1981 and 1999. This documentary directed by Christoph Engel gives the floor to Daniel Barenboim who relates his memories in Bayreuth, his first contacts with the Wagner family in the 1960’s, and his frequent performances at the Bayreuth Festival.

Daniel Barenboim on the Beethoven Sonatas

Accompanying the music recordings and masterclasses, Daniel Barenboim shares his lifelong dedication to and preoccupation with Beethoven in an extensive interview that captivates with wit, anecdotes as well as profound truths.

Schumann at Pier 2

After their internationally acclaimed Beethoven cycle, Paavo Järvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen now present their vision of Schumann’s four symphonies. As the press wrote: “The dream team under Järvi has just landed another major coup”. In addition to the live recordi of the concerts, the production also features a documentary which portrays the origin and development of the project. “We want to show ourselves as we make music”, says Järvi. Reflecting the ensemble’s pedagogical mission to make classical music accessible to the young, the production took place the popular venue “Pier 2”.

Petite Messe Solennelle

Live from the Rossini Festival in Pesaro: Alberto Zedda conducts Rossini’s late masterwork, with an excellent singers quartet and the Coro and Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna.