Making his first appearance at the head of the Camerata academica Salzburg at the Mozartwoche 2000 was American conductor Dennis Russell Davies. Born in Ohio in 1944, he has guested as opera conductor at many of the most prestigious theaters of the world. In 1980 he was appointed General Music Director of the Stuttgart State Opera, and from 1987 to 1995 he fulfilled the same function in Bonn. He was then principal conductor of the Stuttgart Kammerorchester and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. He became General Music Director in Linz in fall 2002. The former “Camerata academica Salzburg” was renamed simply “Camerata Salzburg” in 2001. It was founded in 1951 by Bernhard Paumgartner, who was its head and mentor for many years. From 1978 to 1997 its artistic director was Sándor Végh and in 1997 Roger Norrington was appointed principal conductor of the ensemble. The Camerata Salzburg can be heard every year at the Salzburg Mozartwoche and Salzburg Festival. The teaming of Dennis Russell Davies and the Camerata academica was a total success: “The conductor, in spite of his cool exterior, acted anything but coolly, and the frisky ensemble created an ideal pairing, a kind of ‘Dream Team'”, wrote a Salzburg critic.
Interview with Ann Murray
Pierre-Dominique Ponnelle about Shostakovich’s Symphony No.8
Pierre-Dominique Ponnelle was born in Munich and studied there as well as in Weimar with Otmar Suitner and in Berlin and Salzburg with Herbert von Karajan. From the start of his career, he has been active in the fields of symphony and opera alike, conducting at the theaters in Kassel, Marseille, Bratislava, Zurich and elsewhere. The spectrum of his symphonic repertoire ranges from the classical period to contemporary music. He has guest conducted numerous orchestras, including the Radio Symphony Orchestras of Baden-Baden, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Leipzig, Luxembourg…, the State Orchestras of Armenia, Greece, Slovenia, Lithuania, Ukraine…, the Philharmonic Orchestras of Strasbourg, Zagreb, Monte Carlo, Dresden, Munich and St. Petersburg. In addition, he has appeared at the Festival dei due Mondi in Spoleto and Charleston, as well as at other festivals. From 1992 to 1996 he was associated with the Minsk State Philharmonic Orchestra, first as Principal Guest Conductor and later as Principal Conductor. The main focus of his work there was on Brahms, Mahler, Bruckner and Shostakovich, as well as on large choral works. His successful activity there has been documented by CDs and television recordings. Ponnelle ended his collaboration with this orchestra in late 1996 and is presently active once again as a guest conductor.
Twilights of the Gods: Comparison of Productions
Interview with Wolfgang Wagner
Interview with Siegfried Jerusalem
Haydn, Violin Concerto in C major, Hob.VIIa:1
Joseph Haydn’s Concerto in C major for violin and orchestra Hob. VIIA,1 is performed by soloist Federico Agostini and the Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra. In the autograph manuscript of the concerto, Haydn inscribed the words “Fatto per il Luigi”, referring to Luigi Tomasini, the concertmaster of Prince Paul Anton Esterházy, for whom both musicians worked. Haydn wrote three other concertos for his friend and colleague who, judging from the extraordinary technical demands of the piece, must have been a truly gifted violinist. Federico Agostini, who comes from a noted musical family and who studied with Salvatore Accardo, is known above all as the concertmaster and soloist of “I Musici di Roma”. He plays the ex-Busch-Guadagnini violin of 1783.
Mozart, Piano Quartet in G minor, K.478 (Mozartwoche 2000)
The conductor, pianist and composer André Previn was still a child when he moved with his parents from his native Berlin to the United States. For many years now he has achieved celebrity not only as conductor but also as pianist and chamber musician; in addition, he has composed many works which have been warmly received not only on the concert stage but also in opera houses (“A Streetcar Named Desire”), and in the fields of film music and jazz. Rainer Küchl was born in Waidhofen/Ybbs (Austria) and began learning the violin at the age of eleven. He completed his training in Vienna. Since 1971 he has been the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and, since 1972, of the Hofmusikkapelle. Moreover, he guests with the Küchl Quartet, which he founded, in all major concert venues of the world. Küchl teaches at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna as well as in Japan. Günter Seifert was born in Weyer in Upper Austria. He studied violin and viola in Salzburg and later in Vienna. He has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic since 1972. In 1978 he was named first violin of the Seifert Quartet. The “Mozartgemeinde Wien” awarded him the recording prize for Mozart interpretation in 1993. As soloist, chamber musician and member of the Vienna Philharmonic, he guests in many great concert centers of the world. Franz Bartolomey began learning the cello at the age of six and later studied in his native Vienna. In addition to his activity as solo cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic, he also plays as a soloist and chamber musician in many cities all over the world. Franz Bartolomey performs on an instrument built by David Tecchler (Rome, 1727).
Mozart, Piano Quartet in E flat major, K.493 (Mozartwoche 2000)
The conductor, pianist and composer André Previn was still a child when he moved with his parents from his native Berlin to the United States. For many years now he has achieved celebrity not only as conductor but also as pianist and chamber musician; in addition, he has composed many works which have been warmly received not only on the concert stage but also in opera houses (“A Streetcar Named Desire”), and in the fields of film music and jazz. Rainer Küchl was born in Waidhofen/Ybbs (Austria) and began learning the violin at the age of eleven. He completed his training in Vienna. Since 1971 he has been the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and, since 1972, of the Hofmusikkapelle. Moreover, he guests with the Küchl Quartet, which he founded, in all major concert venues of the world. Küchl teaches at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna as well as in Japan. Günter Seifert was born in Weyer in Upper Austria. He studied violin and viola in Salzburg and later in Vienna. He has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic since 1972. In 1978 he was named first violin of the Seifert Quartet. The “Mozartgemeinde Wien” awarded him the recording prize for Mozart interpretation in 1993. As soloist, chamber musician and member of the Vienna Philharmonic, he guests in many great concert centers of the world. Franz Bartolomey began learning the cello at the age of six and later studied in his native Vienna. In addition to his activity as solo cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic, he also plays as a soloist and chamber musician in many cities all over the world. Franz Bartolomey performs on an instrument built by David Tecchler (Rome, 1727).
Haydn, Divertimento in D major, Hob.IV:11 (Mozartwoche 2000)
The conductor, pianist and composer André Previn was still a child when he moved with his parents from his native Berlin to the United States. For many years now he has achieved celebrity not only as conductor but also as pianist and chamber musician; in addition, he has composed many works which have been warmly received not only on the concert stage but also in opera houses (“A Streetcar Named Desire”), and in the fields of film music and jazz. Rainer Küchl was born in Waidhofen/Ybbs (Austria) and began learning the violin at the age of eleven. He completed his training in Vienna. Since 1971 he has been the concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and, since 1972, of the Hofmusikkapelle. Moreover, he guests with the Küchl Quartet, which he founded, in all major concert venues of the world. Küchl teaches at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna as well as in Japan. Günter Seifert was born in Weyer in Upper Austria. He studied violin and viola in Salzburg and later in Vienna. He has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic since 1972. In 1978 he was named first violin of the Seifert Quartet. The “Mozartgemeinde Wien” awarded him the recording prize for Mozart interpretation in 1993. As soloist, chamber musician and member of the Vienna Philharmonic, he guests in many great concert centers of the world. Franz Bartolomey began learning the cello at the age of six and later studied in his native Vienna. In addition to his activity as solo cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic, he also plays as a soloist and chamber musician in many cities all over the world. Franz Bartolomey performs on an instrument built by David Tecchler (Rome, 1727).