“This production quite possibly shows us the path that musical theater will be taking in the future” (Die Zeit). Indeed, the Catalan city of Valencia is setting new accents in 21st-century opera not only with its spectacular, futuristic opera house, the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofía” designed by Santiago Calatrava, but also with the visually transfixing production of Wagner’s “Ring” staged there by Carlus Padrissa and his theater group La Fura dels Baus. The Barcelona-based Fura became known internationally when it designed and carried out the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and made its breakthrough in the classical world with its production of Berlioz’s “La damnation de Faust” at the 1999 Salzburg Festival. The Fura’s trademark is its spellbinding fusion of movement, sound, music, dance, acrobatics and technology into unforgettable stage events of sometimes raw but always captivating power. In the world of opera, the ensemble has defined its personal style through its exploitation of large-screen projections, the extraordinary mobility of the performers, and the magical use of human beings to create organic structures that evoke objects such as Valhalla (in this “Ring” production). Indeed, La Fura was predestined for Wagner’s visionary world: his dream of a Gesamtkunstwerk becomes reality as a shape-shifting sequence of tableaux unfolds before our eyes with all the elements that constitute the “lenguaje furero” or “Fura idiom”. Eminent conductor Zubin Mehta leads world-class Wagner singers such as Matti Salminen, Peter Seiffert, Juha Uusitalo, Jennifer Wilson and Lance Ryan. Most prominent among the younger cast members are Jennifer Wilson, a “singer we’ll be hearing more of” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and Juha Uusitalo, whom the F.A.Z. hailed as a new “Number One among the opera gods”. Equally outstanding is the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, one of the “youngest and best opera orchestras in Europe” (Opernglas), playing “with rapturous beauty under Zubin Mehta. […] The suppleness, rhythmic presence and singer-friendly dynamic that Mehta achieves with this orchestra are nothing less than miraculous” (F.A.Z.). UNITEL CLASSICA is delighted to continue its proven collaboration with the Palau de les Arts of Valencia, which now features productions of “Fidelio”, “Cyrano” and “Turandot” in addition to the Ring. UNITEL also offers a “Making of” to each of the four Ring operas, as well as documentaries on set designer Roland Olbeter, video designer Franc Aleu and director Carlus Padrissa. With this Ring from Valencia UNITEL continues its cycles of Ring productions begun with the “Centennial Ring” of Patrice Chéreau and Pierre Boulez of the late 70s/early 80s, and followed by the Harry Kupfer/Daniel Barenboim production of the early 90s, both in Bayreuth.
Making of “Die Walküre” – Valencia
“This production quite possibly shows us the path that musical theater will be taking in the future” (Die Zeit). Indeed, the Catalan city of Valencia is setting new accents in 21st-century opera not only with its spectacular, futuristic opera house, the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofía” designed by Santiago Calatrava, but also with the visually transfixing production of Wagner’s “Ring” staged there by Carlus Padrissa and his theater group La Fura dels Baus. The Barcelona-based Fura became known internationally when it designed and carried out the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and made its breakthrough in the classical world with its production of Berlioz’s “La damnation de Faust” at the 1999 Salzburg Festival. The Fura’s trademark is its spellbinding fusion of movement, sound, music, dance, acrobatics and technology into unforgettable stage events of sometimes raw but always captivating power. In the world of opera, the ensemble has defined its personal style through its exploitation of large-screen projections, the extraordinary mobility of the performers, and the magical use of human beings to create organic structures that evoke objects such as Valhalla (in this “Ring” production). Indeed, La Fura was predestined for Wagner’s visionary world: his dream of a Gesamtkunstwerk becomes reality as a shape-shifting sequence of tableaux unfolds before our eyes with all the elements that constitute the “lenguaje furero” or “Fura idiom”. Eminent conductor Zubin Mehta leads world-class Wagner singers such as Matti Salminen, Peter Seiffert, Juha Uusitalo, Jennifer Wilson and Lance Ryan. Most prominent among the younger cast members are Jennifer Wilson, a “singer we’ll be hearing more of” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and Juha Uusitalo, whom the F.A.Z. hailed as a new “Number One among the opera gods”. Equally outstanding is the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, one of the “youngest and best opera orchestras in Europe” (Opernglas), playing “with rapturous beauty under Zubin Mehta. […] The suppleness, rhythmic presence and singer-friendly dynamic that Mehta achieves with this orchestra are nothing less than miraculous” (F.A.Z.). UNITEL CLASSICA is delighted to continue its proven collaboration with the Palau de les Arts of Valencia, which now features productions of “Fidelio”, “Cyrano” and “Turandot” in addition to the Ring. UNITEL also offers a “Making of” to each of the four Ring operas, as well as documentaries on set designer Roland Olbeter, video designer Franc Aleu and director Carlus Padrissa. With this Ring from Valencia UNITEL continues its cycles of Ring productions begun with the “Centennial Ring” of Patrice Chéreau and Pierre Boulez of the late 70s/early 80s, and followed by the Harry Kupfer/Daniel Barenboim production of the early 90s, both in Bayreuth.
Le Donne di Puccini
Making of “Das Rheingold” – Valencia
“This production quite possibly shows us the path that musical theater will be taking in the future” (Die Zeit). Indeed, the Catalan city of Valencia is setting new accents in 21st-century opera not only with its spectacular, futuristic opera house, the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofía” designed by Santiago Calatrava, but also with the visually transfixing production of Wagner’s “Ring” staged there by Carlus Padrissa and his theater group La Fura dels Baus. The Barcelona-based Fura became known internationally when it designed and carried out the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and made its breakthrough in the classical world with its production of Berlioz’s “La damnation de Faust” at the 1999 Salzburg Festival. The Fura’s trademark is its spellbinding fusion of movement, sound, music, dance, acrobatics and technology into unforgettable stage events of sometimes raw but always captivating power. In the world of opera, the ensemble has defined its personal style through its exploitation of large-screen projections, the extraordinary mobility of the performers, and the magical use of human beings to create organic structures that evoke objects such as Valhalla (in this “Ring” production). Indeed, La Fura was predestined for Wagner’s visionary world: his dream of a Gesamtkunstwerk becomes reality as a shape-shifting sequence of tableaux unfolds before our eyes with all the elements that constitute the “lenguaje furero” or “Fura idiom”. Eminent conductor Zubin Mehta leads world-class Wagner singers such as Matti Salminen, Peter Seiffert, Juha Uusitalo, Jennifer Wilson and Lance Ryan. Most prominent among the younger cast members are Jennifer Wilson, a “singer we’ll be hearing more of” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and Juha Uusitalo, whom the F.A.Z. hailed as a new “Number One among the opera gods”. Equally outstanding is the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, one of the “youngest and best opera orchestras in Europe” (Opernglas), playing “with rapturous beauty under Zubin Mehta. […] The suppleness, rhythmic presence and singer-friendly dynamic that Mehta achieves with this orchestra are nothing less than miraculous” (F.A.Z.). UNITEL CLASSICA is delighted to continue its proven collaboration with the Palau de les Arts of Valencia, which now features productions of “Fidelio”, “Cyrano” and “Turandot” in addition to the Ring. UNITEL also offers a “Making of” to each of the four Ring operas, as well as documentaries on set designer Roland Olbeter, video designer Franc Aleu and director Carlus Padrissa. With this Ring from Valencia UNITEL continues its cycles of Ring productions begun with the “Centennial Ring” of Patrice Chéreau and Pierre Boulez of the late 70s/early 80s, and followed by the Harry Kupfer/Daniel Barenboim production of the early 90s, both in Bayreuth.
Der Ring des Nibelungen – Siegfried
“This production quite possibly shows us the path that musical theater will be taking in the future” (Die Zeit). Indeed, the Catalan city of Valencia is setting new accents in 21st-century opera not only with its spectacular, futuristic opera house, the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofía” designed by Santiago Calatrava, but also with the visually transfixing production of Wagner’s “Ring” staged there by Carlus Padrissa and his theater group La Fura dels Baus. The Barcelona-based Fura became known internationally when it designed and carried out the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and made its breakthrough in the classical world with its production of Berlioz’s “La damnation de Faust” at the 1999 Salzburg Festival. The Fura’s trademark is its spellbinding fusion of movement, sound, music, dance, acrobatics and technology into unforgettable stage events of sometimes raw but always captivating power. In the world of opera, the ensemble has defined its personal style through its exploitation of large-screen projections, the extraordinary mobility of the performers, and the magical use of human beings to create organic structures that evoke objects such as Valhalla (in this “Ring” production). Indeed, La Fura was predestined for Wagner’s visionary world: his dream of a Gesamtkunstwerk becomes reality as a shape-shifting sequence of tableaux unfolds before our eyes with all the elements that constitute the “lenguaje furero” or “Fura idiom”. Eminent conductor Zubin Mehta leads world-class Wagner singers such as Matti Salminen, Peter Seiffert, Juha Uusitalo, Jennifer Wilson and Lance Ryan.
Der Ring des Nibelungen – Das Rheingold
“This production quite possibly shows us the path that musical theater will be taking in the future” (Die Zeit). Indeed, the Catalan city of Valencia is setting new accents in 21st-century opera not only with its spectacular, futuristic opera house, the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofía” designed by Santiago Calatrava, but also with the visually transfixing production of Wagner’s “Ring” staged there by Carlus Padrissa and his theater group La Fura dels Baus. The Barcelona-based Fura became known internationally when it designed and carried out the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and made its breakthrough in the classical world with its production of Berlioz’s “La damnation de Faust” at the 1999 Salzburg Festival. The Fura’s trademark is its spellbinding fusion of movement, sound, music, dance, acrobatics and technology into unforgettable stage events of sometimes raw but always captivating power. In the world of opera, the ensemble has defined its personal style through its exploitation of large-screen projections, the extraordinary mobility of the performers, and the magical use of human beings to create organic structures that evoke objects such as Valhalla (in this “Ring” production). Indeed, La Fura was predestined for Wagner’s visionary world: his dream of a Gesamtkunstwerk becomes reality as a shape-shifting sequence of tableaux unfolds before our eyes with all the elements that constitute the “lenguaje furero” or “Fura idiom”. Eminent conductor Zubin Mehta leads world-class Wagner singers such as Matti Salminen, Peter Seiffert, Juha Uusitalo, Jennifer Wilson and Lance Ryan.
Der Ring des Nibelungen – Die Walküre
“This production quite possibly shows us the path that musical theater will be taking in the future” (Die Zeit). Indeed, the Catalan city of Valencia is setting new accents in 21st-century opera not only with its spectacular, futuristic opera house, the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofía” designed by Santiago Calatrava, but also with the visually transfixing production of Wagner’s “Ring” staged there by Carlus Padrissa and his theater group La Fura dels Baus. The Barcelona-based Fura became known internationally when it designed and carried out the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and made its breakthrough in the classical world with its production of Berlioz’s “La damnation de Faust” at the 1999 Salzburg Festival. The Fura’s trademark is its spellbinding fusion of movement, sound, music, dance, acrobatics and technology into unforgettable stage events of sometimes raw but always captivating power. In the world of opera, the ensemble has defined its personal style through its exploitation of large-screen projections, the extraordinary mobility of the performers, and the magical use of human beings to create organic structures that evoke objects such as Valhalla (in this “Ring” production). Indeed, La Fura was predestined for Wagner’s visionary world: his dream of a Gesamtkunstwerk becomes reality as a shape-shifting sequence of tableaux unfolds before our eyes with all the elements that constitute the “lenguaje furero” or “Fura idiom”. Eminent conductor Zubin Mehta leads world-class Wagner singers such as Matti Salminen, Peter Seiffert, Juha Uusitalo, Jennifer Wilson and Lance Ryan.
Young Stars of Classical Music – Johannes Moser and Juraj Valcuha
Johannes Moser is the name to watch among today’s young violoncello virtuosos. Born in 1979, he has already performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with which he made his U.S. debut under Pierre Boulez. His agenda is packed with appearances ranging from concerto soloist to chamber-music partner to interpreter of avant-garde music on an electric cello… In this concert of late-Romantic music with the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, the “Echo Classic Award Winner” 2008 boldly infuses Hans Pfitzner’s Cello Concerto in A minor with a jolt of adrenaline that could very well boost this rarely heard work – which was long thought to be lost – into the concert repertoire. Written in 1883, Richard Strauss’ Romance in F major for cello and orchestra is an early work from the pen of this orchestral master, and another showcase for the talent of Johannes Moser. The concert also features another rising star of the classical music scene, the young Slovak conductor Juraj Valcuha, the principal conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Doing full justice to the refined atmosphere of the German late-Romantic works on the program, which also includes a Wagner overture, excerpts from Pfitzner’s opera Palestrina and Strauss’ Rosenkavalier Suite, conductor Juraj Valcuha soon makes it clear that elegance and transparency are his specialty.
The Mahler Project – Documentary
The Mahler Project: A fascinating documentary on the musical world of Gustav Mahler as seen by the two great musicians, and a recording of Mahler’s colossal Ninth. “Mahler created a new world with each of his symphonies (…) It is a fantastic journey for both of us”. With these few words, Daniel Barenboim sums up the vast scope of a project undertaken with his friend Pierre Boulez: two very different world-class conductors tackle all nine completed symphonies of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) with one orchestra, the Staatskapelle Berlin. Performed as a complete cycle in Berlin, Vienna and New York, the concerts were a tremendous success. The Financial Times even wrote: “New York is going Mahler mad”. Before embarking on this journey, the two conductors underwent a long period of reflection and discussion. In this documentary, director Christoph Engel compiles a rich selection of statements, conversations and musical excerpts which show how differently each maestro approaches this mighty oeuvre.