The Los Angeles Philharmonic marks the 20th anniversary of Walt Disney Concert Hall at its annual gala concert by paying homage to Frank Gehry, architect behind the iconic downtown LA venue. The prelude from Bach’s Partita, the first piece performed in the then-still-under-construction Hall, opens the program, followed by Esa-Pekka Salonen’s transformation of its melody into his piece FOG accompanied by Lucinda Childs, performing her own original choreography. Gehry’s love of the sea, orchestral music, and jazz is combined into offerings from Herbie Hancock, GRAMMY Award-winning R&B singer H.E.R., and Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, who conclude the program with Debussy’s La mer. PROGRAM Bach: Violin Partita No.3, Prelude; Salonen: FOG; Hancock: Maiden Voyage; Debussy: La mer; H.E.R. & LA Phil
Anne-Sophie Mutter, John Williams & Friends: A Celebration!
Superstar violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter celebrates her 60th birthday year with a performance she created with her friends and musical colleagues. She joins the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra along with legendary conductor and composer John Williams, longtime friend and pianist Yefim Bronfman, her protégé, cellist Pablo Ferrández, and sought-after conductor Susanna Mälkki. Anne-Sophie Mutter performs the Beethoven Triple Concerto with Yefim Bronfman and Pablo Ferrández in the first half of the evening, under the baton of Susanna Mälkki. The second half will bring Anne-Sophie Mutter together with the legendary conductor and composer John Williams for a special program featuring his compositions. This one-night-only performance is not to be missed!
Young Generation: Joana Mallwitz conducts the Konzerthausorchester Berlin
A special gala concert from Berlin showcases a galaxy of new stars. Joana Mallwitz conducts the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and is joined by a brilliant array of soloists: Bomsori, Kian Soltani and Rafal Blechacz take the stage for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto; Andrè Schuen sings Mahler’s “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen”, and Bruce Liu is the piano soloist in Beethoven’s boundary-breaking Choral Fantasy, also featuring the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin. Further works by Beethoven and Brahms complete the programme for what promises to be an unforgettable concert. PROGRAM Brahms: Akademische Festouvertüre; Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Choral Fantasy, Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
Mischa Maisky – A Birthday Concert
The cellist Mischa Maisky is one of the greats of his profession. Now he has given a concert with Paavo Järvi and the German Chamber Philharmonic Bremen, performing the works that have given particular shape to his life. The occasion for the concert on July 3rd, 2023, as part of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, was Maisky’s 75th birthday. PROGRAM Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Nocturne in D minor; Bruch: Kol Nidrei; Haydn: Symphony Nos. 93 and 104
Doppelganger – Jonas Kaufmann
Contemporary Opera Director Claus Guth and celebrated Set Designer Michael Levine transform PARK AVENUE ARMORY Hall for a spectacular reimagining of Schubert’s Schwanengesang. The cycle forms a series of masterful snapshots of all that life has to offer, and features a performance that transcends genre: Jonas Kaufmann and his longtime accompanist, pianist Helmut Deutsch, interpret the collection of songs, augmented by additional Schubert repertoire an atmospheric soundscape and transformative light and video projections to create a production that is part performance, part installation. “a rare treat … the theatrical ingenuity and visceral force was so strong that the audience let out an audible gasp of shock” (The New York Times), “a remarkable theatrical coup … Kaufmann’s burnished tenor remains potent, unleashing powerful torrents of sound.” (The Financial Times), “Doppelganger is awesome experimental theater on a grand scale … There’s really nothing like it in New York right now.” (Theatermania)
Maria Callas at Paris Opera – The Concert 1958
Maria Callas made her debut in Paris in 1958. In front of the magnificent backdrop of the Paris Opera (now the Palais Garnier), she shone with arias from Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, Giuseppe Verdi’s The Troubadour and Gioachino Rossini’s The Babier of Seville. A spectacular performance in the city that became her home until her death in 1977. Her debut in front of the grandiose backdrop of the Paris Opera was a social event that drew crowds from all over Paris. Among the guests were numerous celebrities from politics, society and culture, including Charlie Chaplin and Brigitte Bardot. Maria Callas took to the stage in designer clothes and adorned with a million dollars’ worth of jewels. She began with “Casta diva” from Vincenzo Bellini’s “Norma”, followed by Leonora’s sad aria and the poignant “Miserere” from the fourth act of Giuseppe Verdi’s “The Troubadour”, before she lifted the mood with “Una voce poco fa” from Gioachino Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”. Maria Callas took the Parisian audience by storm. At the time, nobody could have guessed that Paris would become her city of destiny, where she would settle and where she would die far too young in 1977 at the age of just 53.
David Garrett – ICONIC
For his open-air concert in Sicily, star violinist David Garrett has chosen a spectacular location: the ancient theater of Taormina with a view of Mount Etna. There he plays Vivaldi, Schumann, Saint-Saëns, Kreisler and many other composers in new arrangements. With his individual selection, Garrett recalls the Golden Age of violin virtuosos – artists such as Zino Francescatti, Arthur Grumiaux, Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Kreisler and Yehudi Menuhin, who delighted their audiences with such musical miniatures and encores. David Garrett is accompanied by his guitarist and arranger Franck van der Heijden, bassist Rogier van Wegberg and the “Orchestra del Teatro Vittorio Emanuele di Messina” conducted by Gianna Fratta. Special guest: Matteo Bocelli.
Bach 300 – Tribute to Bach
An array of musical stars converges in Leipzig to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach taking up his appointment as Kantor at the city’s iconic Thomaskirche – a post that he occupied for more than a quarter of a century, covering a period in which he created many of his greatest works. Among those performing on a special open-air stage in the city’s market square are pianist Lang Lang, violinist Daniel Hope, cellist Sophie Kauer and oboist Albrecht Mayer, joined by the Thomanerchor and the Gewandhausorchester under current Thomaskantor Andreas Reize. Join us for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration!
Vikingur Olafsson: Bach’s Goldberg Variations
Víkingur Ólafsson goes back to Bach for his highly anticipated new recording. Celebrated for his visionary interpretations of the composer’s music, the Icelandic pianist follows up the award-winning Johann Sebastian Bach of 2018 with this stunning recording of the Goldberg Variations, a work he’s dreamed of recording for 25 years. “At least to me, the Goldberg Variations’ genius lies not in the general, but the specific,” says Ólafsson. “As each variation unfolds, one must be wholly gripped by its individual drama and affect, drawn into its own marvellous little microcosm and filled with the joy of discovering it.” As part of a tour taking the work to venues around the world, this concert sees Ólafsson perform it to music-lovers in the South Korean capital.
Jonas Kaufmann at Arena di Verona
Experience an unforgettable gala evening with Jonas Kaufmann. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of opera and wonderful melodies. In the magical setting of the Arena di Verona, the “King of the Tenors” shows the incomparable versatility of his repertoire: from the most beautiful opera arias, including from Tosca, La Traviata and Otello, to operetta classics such as “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” and moving songs from great film classics such as West Side Story. Jonas Kaufmann celebrates the 100th opera season in the Arena di Verona with this unique gala concert this year. And the “wonder tenor” (Le Monde) does not come alone: with Sonya Yoncheva and Ludovic Tézier, three of the world’s greatest opera stars are on stage for this very special evening.