Turkish pianist twin-sisters Güher and Süher Pekinel were first discovered by Herbert von Karajan and have gained international success since their first appearance at the Salzburg Festival. They are considered one of the finest piano duos of our time. This concert focusses on composers who witnessed World War II and reflect in their works the basic values of humanism. Considering the current tragedies in the world, this recital offers a different meaning as a kind of invitation to fight against unjust sufferings. Accompanied by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra percussionists they perform milestones of the repertoire for two pianos. Both the “Symphonic Dances” from West Side Story and “Ciaconna” were arranged for the Pekinel sisters under the auspices of the composers. PROGRAM Penderecki: Ciaconna (arr. For two pianos by K. Penderecki); Bartók: Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, Sz. 110; Gershwin: Three Preludes (arr. For two pianos); Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story (arr. For two pianos and percussion by L. Bernstein); Lutoslawski: Variations on a Theme of Paganini (arr. For two pianos and percussion)
The Complete Mozart Violin Concertos
On the occasion of the MPHIL 360° festival, Valery Gergiev brings together at the Philharmonie im Gasteig the Münchner Philharmoniker, the Mariinski Orchestra and five highly promising young violin talents: Vilde Frang, Sergej Dogadin, Alexander Conunova, Yu-Chien Tseng and Daniel Lozakovich. Together they perform all five of Mozart’s violin concertos. An impressive encounter of excellent musicians, who “show off in questions of virtuosity” (Süddeutsche Zeitung). Once again, “Musicmaniac” Gergiev’s motto is “‘Think Big!’ Success proves him right” (Münchner Merkur).
Mozart: Sinfonia concertante for violin and viola
The Mozart cycle of the MPHIL 360° festival in 2016 was complemented by the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin & Viola, with violinist Lorenz Nasturica-Herschcowici and viola player Yuri Afonkin. An impressive encounter of excellent musicians, who “show off in questions of virtuosity” (Süddeutsche Zeitung).
Prokofiev – The Complete Piano Sonatas Vol. 1-4
On the occasion of Sergej Prokofiev’s 125th birthday, building on the success of the 2015 Prokofiev marathon, which featured all Piano Concertos of the Russian composer, Prokofiev specialist Valery Gergiev presented two concerts at the MPHIL 360° festival containing Prokofiev’s complete piano sonatas as well as selected sonatas by Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti. Four emerging, prizewinning piano talents from Russia and the USA were invited: Dmitry Masleev, George Li, Lukas Geniušas and Sergej Redkin. A “cunning and excentric” show, “brilliantly played” by the pianists (Süddeutsche Zeitung). PROGRAM: Vol. 1 (A 055 50614 0000, appr. 35′): Prokofiev Sonatas No. 1, No. 2 & No. 3 and Scarlatti Sonata K. 141 – Dmitry Masleev; Vol. 2 (Cat. no. A 055 50615 0000, appr. 50′): Prokofiev Sonatas No. 4 & No. 6 and Scarlatti Sonata K. 380 – George Li; Vol. 3 (A 055 50616 0000, appr. 45′): Prokofiev Sonatas No. 5 & No. 7 and Scarlatti Sonata K. 450 – Lukas Geniušas; Vol. 4 (A 055 50617 0000, appr. 60′): Prokofiev Sonatas No. 8 & No. 9 and Scarlatti Sonata K. 193 – Sergej Redkin
Nelsons conducts Bruckner 3
Nelsons lives up to his deep adoration of Richard Wagner, his favourite composer, in this concert, where he is conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker, with the Prelude to the First Act and the “Karfreitagszauber” from the Third Act of Wagner’s Parsifal. The second part of the concert is dedicated to another great composer: Anton Bruckner and his 3rd symphony. “With Nelsons conducting, everything diverged into beauty.” (Der Tagesspiegel) “Nelsons worked his magic. Every repetition is a new reason for amazement, from the intimate Trio to the triumphant Final.“ (Berliner Morgenpost) PROGRAM: Wagner: Parsifal Prelude to Act I ; Good Friday Spell from Act III; Bruckner No. 3
Hengelbrock conducts the Brahms Symphony Cycle
Conductor Thomas Hengelbrock and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra tackle a Brahms marathon, performing all four symphonies of the Hamburg-born composer in the historic Laeiszhalle. PROGRAM: Symphony No. 1 (46’); Symphony No. 2 (39’); Symphony No. 3 (38’); Symphony No. 4 (44’). Also available: LECTURE CONCERT “Discovering Brahms with Thomas Hengelbrock (Length: 43′)
The Odeonsplatz Concert: Münchner Philharmoniker and Valery Gergiev
A balmy summer night, musical highlights and the picturesque scenery of Munich’s Feldherrnhalle – The Odeonsplatz Concert grants experiences of classical music on its highest level in a unique atmosphere. The Münchner Philharmoniker open their open air concert with Bach’s Air from Suite No. 3 and Tchaikovsky’s ballet-suite Swan Lake. Chief Conductor Valery Gergiev conducts this piece with “dance-like elegance and a slightly melancholic levity, tackling the frontiers of the feasible in the rapid movements” (Süddeutsche Zeitung). The programme goes on with Richard Strauss’s Suite from Rosenkavalier, “euphonious, fresh, sensual, with plenty of power exactly when it is needed” (TZ), and with Maurice Ravel’s Boléro.
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2016
The Advent Concert has become a much loved tradition in Dresden, enjoyed by music lovers throughout the world. In this edition the Staatskapelle Dresden performs under the baton of the renowned Columbian maestro Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Bulgarian star soprano Sonya Yoncheva returns to the Frauenkirche and excels with “volume and sonority and a rich vibrato”. She is accompanied by another rising star: Swiss soprano Regula Mühlemann, impressing by her “clear, bright, almost girlish soprano, full of ease” (Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten). Two top-class choirs, Dresdner Kreuzchor – celebrating its 800th anniversary and Dresdner Kammerchor, provide for choral church music at its best. The thoughtfully compiled program features seasonally appropriate selections by Handel, Schubert, Mozart, Mendelssohn as well as traditionals.
Beethoven – The Myth: His Life in 6 Sonatas
Already during his life time Beethoven was regarded as a myth, being the first modern artist in the sense of an autonomous spirit, not dependent on any sovereign, only committed to his own work. But how did Beethoven become hero, myth and legend? This docuseries looks into his piano sonatas as the key to these and many more questions as into a “journal intime”. Featuring animations, enactments, Dutch Beethoven biographer and bestseller author Jan Caeyers and Beethoven expert & pianist Rudolf Buchbinder.
Thielemann conducts Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Liszt
Lisa Batiashvili, Gautier Capuçon, Christian Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Dresden present a sophisticated programme about love and death from the perspective of three 19th century composers: The stages of life can be viewed as preludes to the melody of death, as Liszt proposed in Les Préludes. It is only at the very end that the inadequacies of life are resolved – the tragedy behind the love of Romeo and Juliet in Tchaikovsky’s Fantasy Overture. In the jaws of death, Eros enjoys his strongest impulse, one that transcends time. What results is the desire for the epic and heroic, which in Brahms’ final orchestral work, the Double Concerto, achieves a certain consummation. The Double Concerto forms part of Thielemann’s extensive Brahms cycle, containing symphonies and solo concertos performed to frenetic acclaim in Dresden and Tokyo.