Renée Fleming has always been willing to expand her repertoire into new territory. This recital is a foray into musical jugendstil as embodied in works by composers active in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century – a natural progression from her long association with music by Richard Strauss: Familiar cycles from WOLF and MAHLER morph into the more progressive textures of ZEMLINSKY and SCHOENBERG, with KORNGOLD (and echoes of Johann Strauss II) supplying the necessary dose of kitschy gemütlichkeit. Renée Fleming and her piano partner Maciej Pikulski succeed in creating the “ideal combination of emotion and interpretation” (Der Kurier).
Joseph Calleja: “Nessun Doma” – Tribute to Mario Lanza
With his “Tribute to Mario Lanza” Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja bows to the great Mario Lanza. Born in 1921 as the son of Italian immigrants in Philadelphia, Mario Lanza is a legend up until today. He was once the most famous tenor in the world, although he was hardly performing on any opera stage. In Hollywood, Lanza started a career that seeks its equal – and much too soon came to an end: Mario Lanza died at the age of 38 in 1959. For Joseph Calleja Mario Lanza is one of his big idols, whom he has admired since he was a child. At the Vienna Konzerthaus, he dedicates a whole concert to him singing the most beautiful melodies, arias and popular songs that made Lanza unforgettable … .
Beethoven – The Complete Violin Sonatas
Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Sonatas for Piano and Violin” were almost all composed in a relatively quick succession between 1797 and 1803, in Beethoven’s early days, and are now part of the classic repertoire of the violin literature. Leonidas Kavakos’s and Enrico Pace’s interpretation of the complete Sonata Cycle set new standards, was nominated for the Grammy Award and was celebrated by the press: “Together these two make magic” (Buffalo News), “an ideally attuned, technically perfect duo” (Die
Presse).
Salzburg Festival 2013: Mozart, Così fan tutte
Sven-Eric Bechtolf, dramatic director of the Salzburg Festival, staged this new production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, conducted by German conductor Christoph Eschenbach, music director of the National Symphony Orchestra and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.. Featuring Malin Hartelius as Fiordiligi, “who cuts an attractive figure, acting with charm and ease.” Luca Pisaroni’s Guglielmo is “generous in dimension and in possession of all the necessary criteria for the role”. (Moore Parker, The Opera Critic)
Salzburg Festival 2013: von Hofmannsthal, Jedermann
“Jederman” is the most popular spectacle of the Salzburg Festival since 1920, sold out every year. In 2013 ,the spectacle, with renowed German actor Peter Lohmeyer as “Jedermann”, was presented in a live transmission in 50 cinemas in Germany.
Salzburg Festival 2013: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare / Mendelssohn)
The new production of Shakespeares’ A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the incidental music by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy from Salzburg Festival 2013 is performed in a new translation and edition by Austrian director Henry Mason. Ivor Bolton, chief conductor of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, leads the open-air perfomance at Salzburg’s stunning Courtyard of the Residenz Palace.
Bregenz Festival 2013: André Tchaikowsky, The Merchant of Venice
William Shakespear’s play was turned into an opera by André Tchaikowsky, a Polish-born composer who emigrated to Great Britain. He wrote the opera in 1970s and 80s, but it has never been performed. The world premiere at Bregenz Festival received rave reviews for the staging and the artistic perfomance of the cast: “Keith Warner’s elegant, flowing production evokes the time of the Dreyfus Affair” … “Though Adrian Eröd’s poignantly powerful Shylock stood out, the rest of the excellent cast helped make this a restitution to remember.” (The Telegraph)
Puccini, La fanciulla del West
A celebrated new production of Puccini’s La fanciulla del West from the Vienna State opera featuring Jonas Kaufmann and Nina Stemme. Stage by Marco Arturo Marelli, who sets it in a modern-day mining village. ‘Nina Stemme and Jonas Kaufmann are the opera’s must-see couple for a generation’ (Financal Times). ‘Excellent singing from top to bottom, tight orchestral playing, beautiful lighting, and a decisive lack of cowboys, saloons and other “Wild West” clichés.’ (Bachtrack.com)
Salzburg Easter Festival 2013: Parsifal
Appropriately for the Wagner anniversary year the new era of the Salzburg Easter Festival under the Artistic Direction of Christian Thielemann begins with a new production of Richard Wagner’s Parsifal with the Staatskapelle Dresden as new orchestra in residence. It will be staged by the German director Michael Schulz. The title role in Richard Wagner’s Parsifal has been cast at the highest level with Johan Botha. At the special request of Christian Thielemann, Wolfgang Koch, one of the outstanding Wagner baritones of our times, takes on two roles: Amfortas and Klingsor. The celebrated mezzo-soprano Michaela Schuster will interpret the role of Kundry. The leading Danish bass and Wagner specialist Stephen Milling will appear as Gurnemanz and the young Bulgarian bass Milcho Borovinov in the role of Titurel.
R. Strauss, Capriccio
American soprano Renée Fleming, renowned for her commanding musicianship, intelligence and interpretive abilities, sings one of her signature roles, the elegant Countess in Richard Strauss’s Capriccio in this delightful production from the Vienna State Opera. Renée Fleming stars alongside the Danish baritone Bo Skovhus and conductor Christoph Eschenbach, who leads the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera. Also performing are Michael Schade, Markus Eiche, Kurt Rydl and Angelika Kirchschlager.