NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Antoine Tamestit / Pablo Heras-Casado

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Antoine Tamestit / Pablo Heras-Casado

Not many conductors manage this: to be as much in demand with the Freiburger Barockorchester as with the Bayreuth Festival or the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra; to have the right touch for early music as well as for Romantic and contemporary music, and for concert music as well as for opera. The Spaniard Pablo Heras-Casado is a stylistic all-rounder and presents another »conquest« in his repertoire during his return to the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra: Excerpts from Richard Wagner’s »Götterdämmerung«. In addition, the no less versatile star violist and NDR Artist in Residence 2024/25 Antoine Tamestit performs Sofia Gubaidulina’s Viola Concerto, which has more or less become a »modern classic«.

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Antoine Tamestit / Alan Gilbert

Antoine Tamestit is one of the few real viola stars. The French string player, in his mid-forties, impresses audiences and listeners with his sense of colour, virtuosity and versatility. He demonstrates all of this at the start of his residency when he joins the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra as a soloist.

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Antoine Tamestit / Alan Gilbert

Antoine Tamestit is one of the few real viola stars. The French string player, in his mid-forties, impresses audiences and listeners with his sense of colour, virtuosity and versatility. He demonstrates all of this at the start of his residency when he joins the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra as a soloist.

SWR Symphonieorchester / Pablo Heras-Casado

Anton Bruckner was extremely critical of his compositions throughout his lifetime – with just a few exceptions: he described his Sixth Symphony as his »boldest« and the »Te Deum« as the »pride of his life«. It is absolutely fitting, then, that the world-renowned conductor Pablo Heras-Casado should be congratulating the composer on his 200th birthday with this programme performed by a large orchestra! The »Te Deum« is a mighty creation in praise of God, with an orchestra performing alongside an organ, choir and four vocal soloists. They include the sought-after soprano Christina Landshamer and the bass Franz-Josef Selig, who recently impressed Hamburg audiences in Wagner’s »Flying Dutchman« at the State Opera. Bruckner most likely wanted to impress even divine powers with the five-part work but, that aside, has certainly been inspiring audiences down here on earth ever since the premiere. We can only guess as to what exactly Bruckner found so bold about his Sixth Symphony, but there are many possible reasons: the succinct rhythm right at the start, the energy of which is perpetuated throughout the entire first movement. Or perhaps it alludes to the third movement, which swings back and forth between spooky sequences and blaring brass. Viewed as a whole, the symphonies are among Bruckner’s most »secular« works, making them the perfect counterpart to the Te Deum.

Pablo Heras-Casado & Anja Petersen

Jüri Reinvere is the third leading composer of his native Estonia, alongside Arvo Pärt and Erkki-Sven Tüür. He is also an accomplished concert pianist, lyric poet, journalist and essayist for newspapers in Estonia, Finland, Great Britain and Germany, where he has been living since 2005. Given this cosmopolitan life, it comes as no surprise that his music focuses on theological themes as well as touching on politics, history, and episodes from daily life. Arnulf Herrmann’s newly commissioned Tour de Trance draws inspiration from the verses of poetess and essayist Monika Rinck. His interest in language in all its guises has long stood in the foreground of his music. His special way of handling melody, rhythm and diction poses extraordinary challenges for the singer – challenges that soprano Anja Petersen is happy to confront.

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / James Ehnes / Antoine Tamestit / Louis Langrée

The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra adds a few French touches of colour throughout the season. This includes Louis Langrée, a native of Alsace and experienced conductor, who has selected works from three different eras and very different sound worlds for his debut with the orchestra.

Pablo Heras-Casado dirigiert Anton Bruckners f-Moll-Messe

Pablo Heras-Casado dirigiert Anton Bruckners f-Moll-Messe

After personal and professional setbacks drove Bruckner to the brink of madness in 1867, the organist suffered a nervous breakdown. Recovering in an asylum, he returned to composing and created his "Great" f-minor Mass, a work of symphonic scale and profound expressiveness. The SWR Vokalensemble, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, and SWR Symphonieorchester reunite with conductor Pablo Heras-Casado this season for a performance of Bruckner's final mass setting.

Pablo Heras-Casado dirigiert Anton Bruckners f-Moll-Messe

After personal and professional setbacks drove Bruckner to the brink of madness in 1867, the organist suffered a nervous breakdown. Recovering in an asylum, he returned to composing and created his "Great" f-minor Mass, a work of symphonic scale and profound expressiveness. The SWR Vokalensemble, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, and SWR Symphonieorchester reunite with conductor Pablo Heras-Casado this season for a performance of Bruckner's final mass setting.

Pablo Heras-Casado dirigiert Anton Bruckners f-Moll-Messe

After personal and professional setbacks drove Bruckner to the brink of madness in 1867, the organist suffered a nervous breakdown. Recovering in an asylum, he returned to composing and created his "Great" f-minor Mass, a work of symphonic scale and profound expressiveness. The SWR Vokalensemble, WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, and SWR Symphonieorchester reunite with conductor Pablo Heras-Casado this season for a performance of Bruckner's final mass setting.