Fearless in the face of death, unflinching in their love, ruthless in their revenge: the women in Handel’s operas are anything but one-dimensional. Italian coloratura soprano Patrizia Ciofi and the Baroque ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, led by Maxim Emelyanychev, perform the most powerful and moving arias from Handel’s operas. Together with bestselling author and Handel enthusiast Donna Leon they set out to discover the women’s stories. When Rodelinda becomes a veritable goddess of revenge, Ciofi interprets her great aria “Morrai, si” with dramatic ferocity. In Alcina (1735), the heroine has the power to bewitch the whole world around her, but none over her own heart. Ciofi emotionally commits to Alcina’s desperate arias, “Ah, Ruggero crudel… Ombre pallide” and “Ah, mio cor”, showcasing the tragedy of the narrative. “An original and electrifying spectacle!” (ForumOpera)
Anna Netrebko & Yusif Eyvazov at the Waldbühne Berlin
Returning to the stage where she achieved immense success, Anna Netrebko delivers a stunning performance of the most beautiful arias and duets from Italian Opera at the Waldbühne Berlin. For a magical night at the spectacular amphitheatre, the Russian star soprano is joined by Yusif Eyvazov. Being not only her partner on stage but also in life, the internationally acclaimed Azerbaijani tenor shines in beloved arias such as “Nessun dorma” from Turandot, whilst superstar Netrebko brings Verdi’s Macbeth and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi to life. The night’s repertoire also features several love songs by Igor Krutoy. The renowned Russian composer wrote the romantic pieces specifically for this “dream-team of the opera” (Berliner Morgenpost). The emotional opera duets and the contemporary Russian songs blend perfectly in the joyful and romantic atmosphere of this musical summer night’s dream by Netrebko and Eyvazov who “took Berlin by storm” (Opera Wire).
BPO: Dudamel conducts Dvorak & Adams
City Noir, John Adams’s work for orchestra, is a conglomeration of sophisticated solos, that pays homage to film noir with its title but also with its sinister and sensual sound language. Gustavo Dudamel leads the Berliner Philharmoniker “with lots of humour and real swing through the brilliantly instrumented urban jungle.” (Berliner Morgenpost). In an exciting juxtaposition, the Venezuelan conductor also performs Dvorák’s 9th symphony. Premiered in New York, the colourful work with the nickname “From the New World” brilliantly fuses American impressions and symphonic music. While the Largo can “hardly be imagined in a more noble way”, the Scherzo bursts with great energy, making the endless expanses of the Midwest “almost physically tangible in the swirling stream of sounds” (Tagesspiegel). PROGRAM Dvorak: Symphony No.9; Adams: City Noir
András Schiff – Lecture Concert Goldberg Variations
One of the most important Bach interpreters of our time dedicates himself to a work that is one of the most fascinating compositions of the entire pre-Classical era: In this lecture concert Sir András Schiff takes the audience on a journey to discover Bach’s Goldberg Variations in word and sound. Originally published as “Aria with various alterations”, the 30 variations have become an epitome of the Baroque period. Pianist Schiff “is a gifted teacher” (Süddeutsche Zeitung), guiding the audience on his excursion that takes him “from serenity to serenity, with highpoints and pauses for contemplation along the way.” (The Arts Desk) How Schiff commands the smallerscale architectures is just as impressive as his mastery of the whole 30-variation span … its cogency and integrityare peerless … A spellbinding account of the Goldberg Variations!” (The Guardian). Only Concert version available: appr. 60 mins A055506910000
Blomstedt conducts Bruckner and Beethoven
The Staatskapelle Dresden reunites with its former Principal Conductor Herbert Blomstedt for a memorable performance at the Semperoper Dresden, thanking him for 50 years of highly productive collaboration. The grand seigneur amongst today’s conductors leads the orchestra in an impressive rendition of Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto, which features Sir András Schiff as acclaimed soloist “with an exquisite touch and finest nuances in his play” (Sächsische Zeitung). With the following performance of Anton Bruckner’s 4th Symphony, Herbert Blomstedt “leaves a monument” (Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten). PROGRAM Bruckner: Symphony No. 4; Beethoven: Piano Concert No. 1
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2017
The Festive Advent Concert has become a much loved tradition in Dresden and one of German TV’s biggest classical music success stories. Christian Thielemann and his Staatskapelle Dresden present a programme ranging from the overture of Bach’s orchestra suite D major to Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s Christmas Cantata “Vom Himmel hoch”, Mozart’s Laudate Dominum, excerpts of Haydn’s Die Schöpfung (The Creation) and traditionals. German star soprano Diana Damrau with her “gorgeous and richly coloured timbre” (Sächsische Zeitung), the “brilliant” Helmut Fuchs on trumpet and the “very impressive” Choir of the Sächsische Staatsoper (Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten) create a festive concert experience together. The clear, enchanting soprano of Tuuli Takala blends perfectly with the beautiful, high baritone of Benjamin Appl, winner of the Gramophone Young Artist of the Year Award.
Hélène Grimaud – “Woodlands and beyond…”
Together with her creative and life partner, photographer Mat Hennek, French star pianist Helene Grimaud comes up with a multimedia concert project at the Grand Hall of Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie. Grimaud’s virtuoso piano performance is accompanied by Hennek’s highly praised photo series Woodlands, which depicts genuine portraits of trees, the results of numerous hikes through various forests in Europe and the USA. With works by romantic and impressionist composers, such as Luciano Berio, Nitin Sawhney, Toru Takemitsu, Franz Liszt and Claude Debussy, Grimaud leads her audience into the enchanting world of those various Woodlands and even beyond … “Grimaud is completely at ease, showing flawless clarity in her interpretations” (Die Welt).
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg: The Opening Concert
“HERE TIME BECOMES SPACE” : In January 2017 the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg finally opened its doors with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester under the baton of Principal Conductor Thomas Hengelbrock and several top-class soloists. The audience enjoyed an exceptional celebration with numerous guests from the worlds of culture and politics, plus 1,000 people who won tickets in an international raffle. The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester performed an exciting programme that spans across all musical eras, from the Renaissance to the present. It culminated in a brand-new commissioned work, created especially for this occasion by the most important living German composer Wolfgang Rihm. In varying instrumentation and with outstanding soloists the possibilities of the Grand Hall and its acoustics are explored.
Opening Concert of the Pierre Boulez Concert Hall
A stellar lineup of artists, headed by Daniel Barenboim, comes together for the opening concert of the Pierre Boulez Saal, the new architectural highlight of the Barenboim-Said
Akademie in Berlin – “a masterpiece of its kind” (The New Yorker). Anna Prohaska and Jörg Widmann join Daniel Barenboim, “who plays with the sureness of a sleepwalker”
(Süddeutsche Zeitung), for Schubert’s lyrical scene Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, while the latter also partners with the Boulez Ensemble’s strings in Mozart’s Piano Quartet. Karim Said
and Michael Barenboim take on Berg’s Chamber Concerto, and Widmann performs his own Fantasy for Solo Clarinet. The programme is bookended by Boulez’ fanfare-like Initiale
and sur Incises, for three pianos, three harps, and three percussionists. “Absolutely beautiful!” (FAZ)
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
Russian star conductor Valery Gergiev leads the Mariinsky Orchestra in a captivating rendition of Sergei Prokofiev’s symphonic fairy tale for children Peter and the Wolf in the Philharmonie Munich at the MPHIL 360° festival. One of the most beautiful explanatory works, which gives young listeners an understanding of the orchestral instruments, Peter and the Wolf famously attributes each character of its tale a corresponding instrument in the orchestra. To the delight of the children in the audience, a committed Gergiev and his musicians bring the fairy tale to life with the help of German kids’ TV presenter Malte Arkona, who charmingly voices the different parts. In the hometown of his German orchestra, the star conductor’s Petersburg orchestra shines with a wonderful warm, dark tone. “The Gasteig was buzzing during MPHIL 360°. More of this, please!” (BR Klassik)