With the “Méditation”, Jules Massenet probably wrote one of the most famous melodies of our time. It originates from his Comédie-lyrique “Thaïs”, which – unlike Massenet’s operas “Werther” or “Manon” – never made it into the international opera repertoire. Presumably because the two main roles of Thaïs and Athanaël demand something almost superhuman from the singers. In the new production by Peter Konwitschny at the Theater an der Wien, the American soprano Nicole Chevalier is one of the most exciting singers currently on stage in the title role. At her side, the young Austrian bass-baritone Josef Wagner celebrates his house debut.
Thielemann conducts Bruckner No. 1
For the first time in the orchestra’s history, the Wiener Philharmoniker have engaged themselves to a complete Bruckner cycle and have invited worldwide renowned Bruckner expert Christian Thielemann to take the podium. The performance of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 1 is part of this large-scale Bruckner cycle, which extends to the composer’s 200th birthday in 2024. “Unheard-of luxury” Wiener Zeitung
Thielemann conducts Bruckner No. 5
To mark Anton Bruckner’s bicentenary in 2024, Christian Thielemann, the Wiener Philharmoniker and Unitel are recording the first Bruckner cycle with a single conductor in the orchestra’s history. Under Christian Thielemann’s baton the sound is resonant and glowing, the buildup of tension and release perceptively handled and each solo is impeccably played by some of the world’s best musicians. “The interpretation of the Fifth may also be considered a milestone. The way the musicians realized this work was simply magnificent.” Kurier
Nerone
The focus on rarities has been a trademark of the Bregenz Festival since the opening of the Festspielhaus in the 1980s. It is therefore not surprising that Roman emperor Nero, the colourful character in Arrigo Boito’s lavish opera, makes his appearance in the latest edition of the Festival: The spectacular self-staging of his power contrasts with pangs of remorse he feels after murdering his mother. Begun in 1862, Boito strived to complete the piece for several decades. Only after his death did Arturo Toscanini create a performable version, whose world premiere took place at La Scala in 1924. Olivier Tambosi’s interpretation of this rarely performed opera with love confusions and sectarian characters is radical and opulent. The Wiener Symphoniker perform under the baton of Dirk Kaftan and “the ensemble of singers leaves nothing to be desired and plunges boldly into the sound waves” as the Deutschlandfunk wrote.
BBC Proms 2021: Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla conducts the CBSO
The works that the CBSO commissioned to celebrate its centenary last year are finally getting performed. Thomas Adès’s The Exterminating Angel Symphony, based on material from his 2016 opera, was one of them; its London premiere is framed here by two more symphonies, Ruth Gipps’s Second and Brahms’s Third. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla champion the music of a too-long neglected composer. PROGRAM: Gipps: Symphony No. 2; Adès: The Exterminating Angel Symphony; Brahms: Symphony No. 3
BBC Proms 2021: Nicola Benedetti and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
The much-anticipated annual Prom from the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain returned 2021 under the baton of one of the most exciting young conductors on the international scene, Jonathon Heyward. The NYO is joined by superstar violinist Nicola Benedetti, performing Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto, in a programme that includes specially commissioned music by Laura Jurd and the UK premiere of Jessie Montgomery’s Banner. The evening comes to a climax with Beethoven’s Third revolutionary Symphony, the Eroica, which is widely considered a landmark in the transition between the Classical and the Romantic era.PROGRAM: Laura Jurd: Chant; Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2; Montgomery: Banner; Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica‘
BBC Proms 2021: Vikingur Olafsson plays Bach and Mozart
Award-winning Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson makes his much-anticipated Proms debut, as soloist in both Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in F minor, whose energised outer movements frame a ravishing central Adagio, and Mozart’s pioneering Piano Concerto K491, a rare minor-key work whose stormy, richly orchestrated music climaxes in a relentless dance. The Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Paavo Järvi frame the concert with two symphonies: Prokofiev’s playful ‘Classical’ Symphony, with its clever juxtaposition of traditional forms and contemporary colours, and the more loaded irony of Shostakovich’s compact Symphony No. 9. PROGRAM Prokofiev: Symphony No.1; Bach: Keyboard Concerto; Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24; Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9
BBC Proms 2021: “The 8 Seasons” of Buenos Aires
From an icy Italian winter to the heady, sensual warmth of a South American summer: violinist Joshua Bell leads the Academy of St Martin in the Fields on a musical journey through the sights and sounds of two continents and four very different seasons. Inspired by Vivaldi’s bestknown work, Piazzolla, Argentina’s 20th-century tango king, created his own response, complete with musical quotations. While Vivaldi’s virtuosic concertos celebrate contrast – the freshness of spring, with its sudden thunderstorms, versus the languid heat of summer – Piazzolla’s musical landscape remains more constant, always swaying to the pervasive rhythm of the tango. PROGRAM Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Piazzolla: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
BBC Proms 2021: The Carnival of the Animals
Camille Saint-Saëns, who died 100 years ago, is celebrated in a special family Prom which explores the sounds and rhythms of the Manchester Caribbean Carnival with Revel, a brand new music by Daniel Kidane and narration by Lemn Sissay, before delving into the world of imagination with Saint-Saëns’s muchloved suite The Carnival of the Animals. The seven talented Kanneh-Mason siblings and musical friends are joined by former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo for The Carnival of the Animals. This musical menagerie, packed with braying donkeys, energetic kangaroos, a serene swan and an aquarium of glinting fish, gets a fresh update. PROGRAM: Kidane: Revel, Saint-Saëns: The Carnival of the Animals
At Home with Daniel Barenboim
For this episode of the “Private concert at…” series, Maestro Daniel Barenboim opens us the doors of his house in Berlin and performs Beethoven’s famous “Gheister” Trio with his son Michael Barenboim (violin) and Kian Soltani (cello). In conversation with Annie Dutoit in the intimate setting of his home, he shares very personal memories and anecdotes of his life.