Abbado Conducts Mahler
26 to 28 of February
Gustav Mahler’s work always held a special place in the musical repertoire of Italian conductor Claudio Abbado. It therefore comes as no surprise that he was the initiator of the founding of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester in 1986. This month, Stingray Classica premieres three concerts of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, dedicated to Mahler’s compositions and conducted by Claudio Abbado. On Wednesday, February 26th, Claudio Abbado’s long-time association with this repertoire culminates in this stirring performance of Mahler’s 9th and last Symphony together with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. The following day, the then-newly founded Lucerne Festival Orchestra presents a stunning concert of Mahler's 'Resurrection' Symphony in August 2003. The special comes to an end on Friday, the 28th of February as the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and Abbado again join forces in a 2006 performance from the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. The program is introduced with a short documentary on Schönberg's "Pelleas et Melisande", based on a text by Claudio Abbado. Following this, the piece is performed alongside Mahler’s 4th Symphony.
Mahler - Symphony No. 9
Wednesday, 26 February
The Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester was founded in 1986 at the initiative of Claudio Abbado and has since become the world’s best youth orchestra. Named after the great composer, the programme is marked by the special relationship between the maestro and the young orchestra, as well as their special relationship to Gustav Mahler. Claudio Abbado is undeniably the supreme Mahler conductor of our time and his long-time association with this repertoire culminates in this stirring performance of Mahler’s last Symphony, written shortly before the composer’s untimely death. Recorded at Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome 2004, the film vividly shows the joy, talent, and professionalism of the young musicians drawn from all over Europe and their devotion to Claudio Abbado. A wonderful homage to orchestra, conductor, composer and to a triumphant master work - Gustav Mahler’s magnificent 9th symphony.
Mahler - Symphony No. 2
Thursday, 27 February
"It would be hard to find anything greater, more significant or more moving anywhere in musical life today: total harmony of mind and heart, poetry and outcry, fear and consolation, knowing and feeling," declared the Berne paper Der Bund after this stunning performance of Mahler's Resurrection Symphony in August 2003 by the newly founded Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Claudio Abbado had formed this ensemble from famous instrumentalists, celebrated chamber-musicians and experienced soloists from the world's best orchestras, and the event was sold out months in advance. In this performance, the magnificent soloists Eteri Gvazava (soprano) and Anna Larsson (mezzo-soprano) are accompanied by Orfeón Donostiarra choir.
Abbado conducts Mahler and Schönberg
Friday, 28 February
The program is introduced with a short documentation about Schönberg's Pelleas et Melisande, based on a text by Claudio Abbado. Every musical theme relates to a special colour appearing on screen. What has been so remarkable about Abbado’s Mahler performances is that their impact has never been achieved at the expense of the multiple sensitivities, subtleties and extreme sophistication. Together with the world's leading youth orchestra – the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester (GMJO) – Abbado performs Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and Schönberg’s Pelleas und Melisande, Op. 5. The Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester was founded in Vienna in 1986, by Abbado’s initiative. The orchestra's high level of artistic quality and its international success have moved important conductors and soloists to work with the ensemble.