Concerts with works by

Richard Wagner

Guest performance

Rachmaninoff’s stroke of genius

Rachmaninoff’s stroke of genius

Symphonic Concert

Michael Nagy, photo: Gisela Schenker Biographers of Gustav Mahler have vied with one another to produce increasingly daring readings of his work through the prism of events in the composer’s life. A rewarding object for comparative analysis is his youthful four-movement cycle Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, originally composed for voice and piano. Full of paradoxes, darkness and fantasy, these songs to the composer’s own words impose autobiographical associations from the very title of the work. In it, Mahler reveals himself to be an insatiable romantic wanderer – a tragic witness to his beloved’s wedding. The work Der Ring ohne Worte does not appear in the catalogue of Richard Wagner’s oeuvre. Although the title may evoke associations with Romantic piano miniatures (songs without words), it is an extensive symphonic ‘synopsis’ of Der Ring des Nibelungen, written by American conductor Lorin Maazel, who died a decade ago. His ambitious aim was to condense the instrumental music from each movement of the great Wagnerian cycle in the right proportions and in such a way as to avoid adding bridges or modulations and to preserve the chronology of events. The result was a work lasting 70 minutes uninterrupted, which begins with the prelude to Das Rheingold and ends with the final notes of Götterdämmerung.

Symphonic Concert

Michael Nagy, photo: Gisela Schenker Biographers of Gustav Mahler have vied with one another to produce increasingly daring readings of his work through the prism of events in the composer’s life. A rewarding object for comparative analysis is his youthful four-movement cycle Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, originally composed for voice and piano. Full of paradoxes, darkness and fantasy, these songs to the composer’s own words impose autobiographical associations from the very title of the work. In it, Mahler reveals himself to be an insatiable romantic wanderer – a tragic witness to his beloved’s wedding. The work Der Ring ohne Worte does not appear in the catalogue of Richard Wagner’s oeuvre. Although the title may evoke associations with Romantic piano miniatures (songs without words), it is an extensive symphonic ‘synopsis’ of Der Ring des Nibelungen, written by American conductor Lorin Maazel, who died a decade ago. His ambitious aim was to condense the instrumental music from each movement of the great Wagnerian cycle in the right proportions and in such a way as to avoid adding bridges or modulations and to preserve the chronology of events. The result was a work lasting 70 minutes uninterrupted, which begins with the prelude to Das Rheingold and ends with the final notes of Götterdämmerung.

Benefizkonzert für krebskranke Kinder

The 25th benefit concert for "Parents' Help for Children with Cancer" will feature works by Wagner, Korngold, Bach, and Stravinsky, performed by Musicians for Children with Cancer, conducted by Matthias Foremny, with violinist Tobias Feldmann and the Thomanerchor Leipzig under Thomaskantor Andreas Reize.

Vladimir Jurowski & Yefim Bronfman

DAS RHEINGOLD

"Das Rheingold" sets the stage for Wagner's tetralogy, exploring love versus power. Alberich steals the Rhinegold, Wotan builds Valhalla, and a chain of events unfolds, marked by Alberich's curse and Fafner's fratricide. The Leipzig Opera's 2013 production, conducted by Ulf Schirmer, highlighted the comedic aspects of this shortest "Ring" opera.

SIEGFRIED

"Der junge Siegfried" (originally titled "The Young Siegfried") tells of Siegfried, son of Siegmund and Sieglinde, raised by the malicious Mime after his parents' deaths. This coming-of-age story sees Siegfried rebelling against Mime, who plans to use him to seize the Nibelung hoard from Fafner. Siegfried, fearless, forges a sword, slays Fafner, claims the hoard, and kills Mime. He defies Wotan, and, upon reaching Brünnhilde, forgets his mission for love. This "scherzo" blends fairytale and comedy while showcasing nature's power.

Juan de la Rubia Recital

Born in Castellón, Spain, Juan de la Rubia is the organist at Barcelona's Sagrada Família. Known for his skill in opulent arrangements, virtuoso improvisations, classical pieces, and jazz influences, he has performed at prestigious venues like the Auditorio Nacional, Gewandhaus Leipzig, and Elbphilharmonie. Now, he debuts at the Philharmonie Essen.

Kammerchor & Orchester der Universität Hamburg / UniversitätsChor München

Universitätsmusik Hamburg cordially invites you to a musical event that celebrates the cultural exchange between the symphony orchestra and chamber choir of the University of Hamburg and the University Choir of LMU Munich. The impressive »German Requiem« by Johannes Brahms, which will unfold its touching power on this evening, will take centre stage. Over 200 talented musicians will perform together on stage. The evening begins with the solemn overture to Wagner’s »Parsifal«, which prepares the audience for the climax of the concert. The concert will be conducted by Thomas Posth.

An evening with Renée Fleming

It always feels good to make music with friends – and when that friend is soprano Renée Fleming, you just know that something extra-special is on the cards. No introduction is required for one of the LPO’s best-loved guests, the American soprano whose personality lights up the world’s greatest stages and whose voice has been compared to double cream. ‘Unforgettable’ was how one critic described her 2022 Gala with the LPO, and tonight she returns to sing Richard Strauss’s radiant Four Last Songs. Music that never grows old, sung by one of the supreme voices of our time.

Renée Fleming sings Strauss

It always feels good to make music with friends – and when that friend is soprano Renée Fleming, you just know that something extra-special is on the cards. No introduction is required for one of the LPO’s best-loved guests, the American soprano whose personality lights up the world’s greatest stages and whose voice has been compared to double cream. ‘Unforgettable’ was how one critic described her 2022 Gala with the LPO, and tonight she returns to sing Richard Strauss’s radiant Four Last Songs. Music that never grows old, sung by one of the supreme voices of our time.

Jacquot, Kholodenko · Wagner, Liszt, Holmès

Jacquot, Kholodenko · Wagner, Liszt, Holmès

Okka von der Damerau / Levi Hammer

Hamburg-born, internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Okka von der Damerau and US conductor and pianist Levi Hammer met during a production of »Tristan und Isolde« in Los Angeles. It was there that the desire arose to meet artistically in Hamburg with a song recital. Johannes Brahms wrote many of his 200 songs for the alto Hermine Spies, who was famous throughout Europe in the late 20th century. She was only 36 years old and died shortly after her wedding and retreat into private life. Inspired by the songs dedicated to Hermine Spies and performed for the first time, the programme combines Brahms’ songs with Richard Wagner’s »Wesendonck Lieder« and is thus dedicated to the inexhaustible source of inspiration of unfulfilled love and longing.

Fischer, Nylund · Fauré, Wagner, Beethoven

Fischer, Nylund · Fauré, Wagner, Beethoven

Im Fluss - Liszt & Die Rheinische

Alexandre Kantorow, winner of the 2019 Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, performs in Cologne with a grand romantic repertoire. Liszt's second piano concerto, a dramatic interplay of poetry and virtuosity, takes center stage. Schumann's "Rhenish Symphony" and Wagner's rarely heard "Faust Overture" complete the program.

Gastspiel Antwerpen

Alexandre Kantorow, winner of the 2019 Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, performs a grand romantic repertoire in Cologne. Featuring Liszt's virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 2 alongside Schumann's "Rhenish" Symphony and Wagner's rarely-heard Faust Overture.

Orchestre de Paris / Nathalie Stutzmann

After the poetry and insight brought by Emanuel Ax to Beethoven's admirable Concerto No.4, Nathalie Stutzmann takes us into the enchanted depths of Wagner's Ring, a “total art work" from which pure orchestral gems emerge.

Orchestre de Paris / Nathalie Stutzmann

After the poetry and insight brought by Emanuel Ax to Beethoven's admirable Concerto No.4, Nathalie Stutzmann takes us into the enchanted depths of Wagner's Ring, a “total art work" from which pure orchestral gems emerge.

Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra

The Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Christoph Gedschold, presents a profound programme: Haydn’s »Farewell Symphony« and Wagner’s »Prelude« and »Liebestod« from »Tristan und Isolde« reveal a close relationship in terms of content, as death and farewell are fundamentally related. Schumann’s 2nd Symphony is diametrically opposed to this, even though this work was composed during a period of deep crisis in the composer’s life.

DAS RHEINGOLD

"Das Rheingold" sets the stage for Wagner's tetralogy, exploring love versus power. Alberich steals the Rhinegold, Wotan builds Valhalla, and a chain of events unfolds, marked by Alberich's curse and Fafner's fratricide. The Leipzig Opera's 2013 production, conducted by Ulf Schirmer, highlighted the comedic aspects of this shortest "Ring" opera.

Symphoniker Hamburg / Sylvain Cambreling

Christoph Willibald Gluck's opera "Alceste" deeply impressed the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Years later, Mozart completed a symphonic trio. Franz Liszt, inspired by a drawing, revisited his symphonic poem form two decades later. Richard Wagner's "Tristan" prelude encapsulates the struggle of hopeless love.

SIEGFRIED

"Der junge Siegfried" (originally titled "The Young Siegfried") tells of Siegfried, son of Siegmund and Sieglinde, raised by the malicious Mime after his parents' deaths. This coming-of-age story sees Siegfried rebelling against Mime, who plans to use him to seize the Nibelung hoard from Fafner. Siegfried, fearless, forges a sword, slays Fafner, claims the hoard, and kills Mime. He defies Wotan, and, upon reaching Brünnhilde, forgets his mission for love. This "scherzo" blends fairytale and comedy while showcasing nature's power.

Richard Wagner / Siegfried

Performed by the musicians of Concerto Köln and the Dresdner Festspielorchester under the direction of Kent Nagano, this Siegfried is the fruit of years of research into what would be a historically informed reading of Wagner’s operas.

Richard Wagner: Siegfried

Jetzt zieht er in die Welt: Der freie Held Siegfried soll wieder richten, was Wotan, der Göttervater, zu Beginn der Geschichte vermasselt hat. Endlich ist Teil drei von Wagners »Ring des Nibelungen« im Originalklang-Projekt von Kent Nagano zu erleben.Im Rahmen dieses Projekts (das ursprünglich unter der Überschrift »Wagner-Lesarten« bekannt wurde und in dem überhaupt die Idee zu einem Originalklang-Ring entstand und realisiert werden konnte und zwar mit großzügiger Unterstützung des Landes NRW und der Kunststiftung nrw) erkundet der entdeckungsfreudige Maestro gemeinsam mit Concerto Köln, dem Dresdner Festspielorchester und einer exquisiten Sängerschar fortgesetzt die historisch informierten Dimensionen der Tetralogie. Musikalisch beredt erzählen sie nun davon, wie Siegfried im Wald aufwächst, das Schwert Nothung neu schmiedet, den Drachen Fafner tötet, von diesem arglos den »Ring des Nibelungen« gewinnt, Wotans Speer zerschlägt und liebend die Walküre Brünnhilde erweckt.The Wagner CyclesEin Projekt der Dresdner Musikfestspiele Gefördert vom Kuratorium KölnMusik e.V.

Easter Concert Vasily Petrenko Oslo Philharmonic Choir Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner (1813–1883) first encountered the story of the knight Parsifal in 1845. In the spring of 1857, he sketched an opera based on the tale, and 25 years later, on 26 July 1882, Parsifal premiered in Wagner’s own opera house in Bayreuth. The composer himself did not call Parsifal an opera, but a Bühnenweihfestspiel, a “stage-festival-play” which was exclusively performed at Bayreuth. The work has a strong spiritual dimension characterized by Wagner’s interest in Christianity, Buddhism and philosophy. Parsifal is one of the Grail brothers, the knights who protected the Holy Grail, the cup from which, according to legend, Jesus drank from at the Last Supper, and in which his blood is collected. Richard Wagner wrote the lyrics himself, loosely based on medieval verse novels. Wagner describes Parsifal’s development and spiritual growth from being an inexperienced knight to, through learning suffering and compassion, understanding the Holy Grails deeper meaning and becoming its guardian.In the third act, Parsifal becomes a redeemer for the Grail community and heals King Amfortas. The action takes place on Good Friday, which emphasizes central themes – spiritual renewal and redemption. The music is played in a concert version, i.e. without scenery or costumes.