Under the musical direction of their chief conductor designate, Christian Thielemann, the Staatskapelle Dresden performed this special concert to celebrate Franz Liszt and his bicentenary. At its home, the prestigious Semperoper in Dresden, the orchestra presented a Faust-themed concert with two works by Wagner and Liszt inspired by Goethe’s drama. “Fired up by inspiration, the Dresden musicians and their leader offer a superb demonstration of their ability, their precision and their feeling for colour and temperament … A top orchestra and a top conductor have found each other” (Die Welt).
Kinshasa Symphony
Two hundred orchestral musicians are playing Beethoven’s Ninth – “Freude schöner Götterfunken“. A power cut strikes just a few bars before the last movement. Problems like this are the least of the worries facing the only symphony orchestra in the Congo. In the 15 years of its existence, the musicians have survived two putsches, various crises and a war. But concentration on the music and hopes for a better future keeps them going. Kinshasa Symphony is a study of people in one of the world’s most chaotic cities doing their best to maintain one of the most complex systems of joint human endeavour: a symphony orchestra. The film is about the Congo, the people in Kinshasa and the power of music.
“A superb and affecting documentary about some highly unusual musicians, the staggering challenges they face in their everyday lives, the amazing city they live in and the power of Beethoven‘s Ninth.” Die Zeit
“Beautifully photographed and sonically stellar.“ Variety
“Kinshasa Symphony is a stand-out title.“ The Mercury
“It’s to Baer and Wischmann’s credit that it is a very measured and often funny and lyrical film.“ Die Zeit
“For me, the strongest impression at the Berlinale was Kinshasa Symphony, no doubt about it.” ACADEMY AWARD WINNER Volker Schlöndorff
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Press Quotes
In this production “the visual codes of the digital era become elemental and dazzlingly employed means of narration” (Opernwelt).
„Quite a spectacle, brilliantly sung.“ The Sunday Times
“It looks like a landmark Ring cycle, it is outstanding.” BBC Magazine
4 Stars in Rondo
“Wagner like this is fun even for pop fans” Spiegel Online
“Wagner’s music drama ingeniously illustrated” Fono Forum
“This production positively crackles with tension” Crescendo
Awards
Rheingold: Echo Klassik 2010
Der Ring des Nibelungen: German Record Critics’ Award of New Releases for the Second Quarter 2010
Die Walküre: German Record Critics’ Award of New Releases for the First Quarter 2010
Das Rheingold: Diapason d´Or, DIAMANT d’Opera Magazine
Der Ring des Nibelungen: Choc de Classica