“Great moments: world premiere of Thomas Larcher’s opera ’Das Jagdgewehr’ at the Bregenz Festival.“ (Wiener Zeitung) Thomas Larcher has adapted Yasushi Inoue’s best-seller The Hunting Gun for his first opera, with a libretto by Austrian Book Prize winner Friederike Gösweiner. Austrian actor and film director Karl Markovics made his debut as stage director for an opera. The story tells of three women, who speak in three letters addressed to the same man, a hunter – his wife, his lover and his lover’s daughter. As the women react to the revelation of illicit love, the hunter’s life is laid bare. “The Austrian composer’s first opera is inventive” (The Times), “a clear, powerful text, some striking imagery and a luminous score of great beauty and originality ensure this opera’s success.“ (The Observer)
LA Phil 100 – The LA Phil Centennial Birthday Gala
A century to the day after the orchestra’s first concert on 24th October 1919, the centennial season culminates in a “splashy gala night” (San Francisco Classical Voice) at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with the current and former chief conductors Dudamel, Mehta and Salonen sharing the podium. The repertoire is a true reflection of the DNA that makes the LA Phil the LA Phil and “the defining factor of this orchestra is its ability to blend genres and styles to create totally new takes on classical works.” (The Guardian) The New York Times recently called the LA Phil “America’s most important orchestra. Period”. Look no further than this concert´s program: Ravel’s La Valse – Zubin Mehta; Lutoslawski’s Symphony No. 4 – Esa-Pekka Salonen; Strawinsky’s Firebird Suite – Gustavo Dudamel and the World Premiere of Daníel Bjarnason’s New Work for Three Conductors! BONUS LA Phil – The Tradition of the New. The documentary portrays the LA Phil and its continual creative reinvention on the occasion of this jubilee. Including a historical part to trace the steps that played a part in where the orchestra stands today + interviews with the current and former chief conductors Dudamel, Mehta, Salonen + Frank Gehry, John Adams + music critics, and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic staff.
Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman)
At Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, maestro Fabio Luisi gives “a superb performance” (Operawire) of Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman), the forerunner of grand Wagnerian dramas. His Italian Richard Wagner debut is infused with energy and drive, under his direction the orchestra and chorus of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, together with Coro Ars Lyrica, sparkle “in what was a five star performance” (Operawire). Thomas Gazheli stars as the Dutchman, who has been condemned to endlessly wander the seas until the day of Judgement. Marjorie Owens shines as his saviour Senta.