Smetana’s The Two Widows in Ostrava celebrates the 200th anniversary in magnificent style

Czech RepublicCzech Republic Smetana, The Two Widows (Dvě vdovy): Soloists, Choir and Orchestra of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre / Marek Šedivý (conductor). Antonín Dvořák Theatre, Ostrava, 6.3.2024. (GT)

Smetana’s The Two Widows © Martin Popelář

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Shostakovich Festival Leipzig 2025 – 15 May to 1 June

Shostakovich Festival Leipzig 2025

Shostakovich’s music has much in common with Beethoven and Mahler by sharing in their creativity the ideals of humanity, freedom and justice. It is no coincidence that Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony was composed like Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony during a time when Vienna and Leningrad were under siege. It is for the shared values of human dignity entwined in their magnificently expressive scores that more and more people are drawn to their music.

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Leipzig Opera’s eco-friendly staging of Musgrave’s Mary, Queen of Scots is a right royal success

GermanyGermany Thea Musgrave, Mary, Queen of Scots: Soloists, Actors and Chorus of Leipzig Opera, Gewandhaus Orchestra / Matthias Foremny (conductor), Leipzig Opera, 12.1.2024. (GT)

Mary, Queen of Scots (Nicole Chevalier) and James Stewart, Earl of Moray (Franz Xaver Schlecht) © Tom Schulze

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Alan Gilbert’s Shostakovich 10 gives a masterly foretaste of the Leipzig Festival 2025

GermanyGermany Auerbach, Shostakovich: Soloists and Gewandhauschor, Gewandhausorchestra / Alan Gilbert (conductor). Grosser Saal of the Leipzig Gewandhaus, 11.1.2024. (GT)

Alan Gilbert conducts the soloists and the Gewandhausorchester in Auerbach’s Vessels of Light  © Gert Mothes

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