Monthly Highlights

Stingray Classica will bring viewers to their feet with brand-new dance and ballet performances every Sunday! The special offers no less than five performances recorded at celebrated French venues. Vers un protocole de conversation? features two dancers, searching for a common language which makes George Appaix’s work an enchanting experiment. In Sciaronni’s FOLK-S, five dancers present an exhilarating performance with themes of struggle and resistance. All are dressed in typical Austrian lederhosen! The production Vertigo 20 is an overview of the rich history of Vertigo, an Israeli modern dance company based in Jerusalem. On June 16th, lovers of neoclassical ballets will enjoy the work of Hans van Manen. His work Concertante contains humour and aggression, dazzling solos, and an intense pas de deux. Van Manen is known for his extensive work with the Dutch National Ballet, and a style resembling that of Balanchine.

Every Saturday evening in June, Stingray Classica offers a fascinating concert premiere, featuring some of today’s most impressive artists. The first two weeks offer a great deal of pianistic virtuosity. Up-and-coming stars Alice Sara Ott and Francesco Tristano present their program titled ‘Scandale’, which radiates energy and joyous piano-playing! It’s no surprise that their performance has been described as “classical music for the pop age”. Living-legend Grigory Sokolov displays his visionary interpretations and wide repertoire during a recital from the prestigious festival in Aix-en-Provence. On June 15th, Kristine Opolais presents a spectacular sequence of aria performances. The Latvian prima donna and star of the MET is one of the most sought-after sopranos in today’s international scene. The following week, be prepared to travel back in time for some of the finest German Baroque gems: The Masques ensemble and Vox Luminis team up to bring some of Buxtehude’s most beloved vocal compositions. The month closes with perhaps the greatest keyboard star of the moment! Daniil Trifonov will feature as soloist in the intensely difficult ‘Rach3’. The young Russian displays some first-class piano-playing during the New Year’s Eve concert of the Berliner Philharmoniker in 2016.

From June 20 to 23, over four afternoons, Stingray Classica broadcasts the monumental opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen, the magnum opus of the German composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883). These productions are recorded at the Staatsoper Stuttgart in 2003 under the baton of Lothar Zagrosek. Richard Wagner is perhaps the greatest innovator of the opera genre in the nineteenth century and aimed for the creation of the ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’, in which theatre, music and words were united. The cycle is composed between 1853 and 1874, and consists of Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung. Striking in Wagner's operas is the use of the so-called ‘Leitmotiv’, a melodic motif that stands for a certain idea or character. In addition, Wagner uses unconventional harmonies and very extensive orchestral instrumentation. The entire cycle is still performed annually at the Bayreuth Festival, where it premiered in 1876. Now you can also enjoy this colossal masterpiece at Stingray Classica!

During the weekend of June 14 to 16, Stingray Classica brings some of the most outstanding highlights from recent editions of Young Euro Classic of 2016 and 2017. The festival is presumably the world’s most important platform for young musicians from all parts of the world. During three weeks in summer, talented orchestras get their chance to perform at the glamorous Konzerthaus in Berlin. To some orchestra members, these performances are without a doubt the most influential events of their young careers. Young Euro Classic adds a dynamic element to the international orchestra scene and enables orchestras to present themselves. The festival has inspired the founding of new orchestras and helps to maintain existing initiatives. Make sure not the miss this summer’s edition, which is held from July 19 to August 6!