In the mid 1980s, Unitel began recording a complete cycle of Sibelius symphonies with Leonard Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic. Bernstein’s death in 1990 unfortunately cut short this project after the release of Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 7. Recorded live at Vienna’s Musikverein, these ecstatic performances were the object of stellar reviews. On this disc, Bernstein’s unique and by now legendary interpretations of Sibelius are released for the first time on Blu-ray.
W.A. Mozart: Davide penitente – Bartabas & Marc Minkowski
For this spectacular production of Mozart’s Davide penitente on the vast stage of the Salzburg Felsenreitschule at the Mozart Week 2015, Marc Minkowski and the equestrian choreographer Bartabas used dancing horses and thus restored the former riding school to its original function. Horses, riders from the Académie équestre de Versailles and Bartabas himself, whose successful productions are unique in the world of art, perform their elegant dressage arabesques within this exceptional setting. Soloists, chorus and orchestra are ranged over three levels on galleries cut from the bare rock. The result is a unique synthesis of the arts.
“A festival of beauty”. (Münchener Abendzeitung)
“Minkowski and Bartabas have created a great piece of theatre”. (NMZ)
Julia Fischer at the BBC Proms
From the pastoral landscapes of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 to the vibrant folk scenes of Strauss’ sound-poem Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche and Dvorak’s Violin Concerto, this Prom takes a vivid journey across Central Europe. At the BBC Proms 2014, the world’s largest classical music festival, David Zinman appeared in his final concert as chief conductor of Zurich’s Tonhalle Orchestra, stepping down after almost 20 years. “This beautiful Prom marked the end of an era. David Zinman’s final concert as chief conductor of the Zurich Tonhalle was a superb example of his intelligent musicianship” (The Guardian). Julia Fischer “was the accomplished and eloquent soloist” (Evening Standard) performing Dvorák’s richly lyrical Violin Concerto with “the kind of flawless technique and steely vibrato that seems impervious to human fallibility” (The Telegraph).