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Ludwig van Beethoven’s »Missa solemnis« is a superlative work. The technical and physical demands on the orchestra and choir as well as the conductors, who must be experienced in both fields, are tremendous – which almost predestines Thomas Hengelbrock, and his intimately familiar Balthasar Neumann Choir and Orchestra he established, for this performance. The performers are assisted by an acoustically powerful line-up of top-class soloists. »From the heart – may it return to the heart« noted Beethoven about the score of his »Missa solemnis« and considered it »the most successful of his creations«. It is the most personal confrontation with his faith and translates an understanding of God shaped by enlightenment and humanism into music. Not by chance, for instance, did it emerge at the same time as his famous Symphony No. 9 with its »Ode to Joy« – and, like this, is a plea to humanity.
Christoph Willibald Gluck wanted his operatic music to be entirely focused on the gripping depiction of the plot. In the process, he revolutionised the overly long, extravagant baroque models. He set the ancient subject matter of »Iphigénie en Tauride« – a bloodthirsty family tragedy – to music, with finely rendered character studies that portray in gripping ways their personal inner conflicts in beautiful arias. It is an ideal template for Thomas Hengelbrock and his ensembles, who have long been a fixture in European musical life with their synthesis of historically informed interpretations and high-energy music-making. He has invited one of the most moving soprano voices of our time to Hamburg for the starring role in this opera-themed concert: Gaëlle Arquez, who last dazzled as Carmen in the Elbphilharmonie. The plot offers her and the other singers ample opportunity to perform across the full range of emotions. King Agamemnon was once prepared to sacrifice his daughter Iphigénie to the goddess Diana to win the war against Troy. In return, his wife Clytemnestra kills him on his return and their son Orest avenges his father by killing his mother. Diana, however, rescued Iphigénie at the last moment and took her to the island of Tauris as her priestess. This is where Orest comes to escape from the goddesses of revenge who torment him. Iphigénie, who is supposed to sacrifice all strangers on the island to Diana, recognises her brother and, overwhelmed with forgiveness, brings the spiral of violence to an end.