The spirit of the Ballets Russes traverses this concert by the Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Paris, conducted by Teodor Currentzis, a larger-than-life conductor known for his intense performances.
NDR called the Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis a »pyrotechnician on the podium« after he presented his new project orchestra »Utopia« at the Laeiszhalle in autumn 2022: »It trills, vibrates and sparkles in every bar. The orchestra’s delight in playing is palpable. The audience is enthralled and enraptured, cheering after every piece.« After another guest appearance at the Elbphilharmonie last May, the 100-plus musicians from 30 nations are now returning to Hamburg – this time to play Gustav Mahler’s popular Fifth Symphony. »Utopia« is made up of members of top European orchestras. Similar to the international all-star orchestras once initiated by Claudio Abbado, it is primarily left to the charisma of the chief conductor to put together a top-class line-up. And Currentzis is just the man for the job. Hardly any other conductor of our time has sparked such a cult around his person thanks to his genius, his dedication and the reputation he cultivates as the »enfant terrible« of classical music. To this end, Currentzis regularly chooses gripping works whose intensity and sonority bring out his creative drive and the qualities of his orchestra to best effect. In this case, Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, which captivates the audience from the opening funeral march to the turbulent finale. At the centre is the yearning-filled Adagietto, which became famous as the film music Luchino Visconti used in the soundtrack to »Death in Venice«.
Benjamin Britten was a passionate pacifist. With his »War Requiem« of 1961, he composed his most impressive and moving confessional work in 1961, which is considered one of the central works of the 20th century against war and in favour of peace. With this key work, Teodor Currentzis delivers the musical epilogue for the Hamburg International Music Festival and closes the programmatic arc of the motto »War and Peace«. The star conductor comes to Hamburg once again in his role as chief conductor of the SWR Symphony Orchestra and has engaged baritone Matthias Goerne, among others, for the hugely scored »War Requiem« alongside his orchestra and three formidable choirs. Britten wrote his »War Requiem« to commemorate the devastating air raid on Coventry in 1940 and for the consecration of the rebuilt cathedral in the city. The composer himself conducted the acclaimed 1962 premiere of this monumental composition for orchestra, choirs, three solo singers and organ. The soloists back then included Goerne’s teacher Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. However, Britten’s »War Requiem« is not simply a protest against all forms of inhumanity and the wars of the 20th century. His requiem mass, which ends with a prayer for eternal peace, has lost none of its power or relevance.
When Teodor Currentzis first presented his new orchestral project »Utopia« at the Laeiszhalle in October 2022, the applause seemed to last forever. Now, the exceptional Greek-Russian conductor brings the orchestra consisting of over 100 fantastic musicians from more than 30 countries to the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall. Currentzis says that they are searching together »for the perfect sound without compromise«. They have already found the perfect work for a big stage: Anton Bruckner’s monumental Ninth Symphony, dedicated to »Our Beloved Lord«. The strict Catholic spent nine years working on the symphony, which he left unfinished at his death; he completed only three of four planned movements
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