Germany Gruber, Bartók, Ravel, and Berio: Emanuel Ax (piano), Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), Rinat Shaham (mezzo-soprano), Gábor Bretz (bass), Ulrich Noethen, Dino Scandariato (narrators), Members of the Berlin Radio Choir and Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Paul Jeukendrup (sound direction), Orchestral Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 18.3.2017. (MB)
Berlin
Programming and Performances to Satisfy the ‘Thinking Ear’ at Berlin’s New Concert Hal
Germany Mozart, Boulez, and Schoenberg: Donatienne Michel-Dansac (contralto), Boulez Ensemble / François-Xavier Roth (conductor). Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin, 17.3.2017. (MB)
Die Schöpfung Seems ‘At Home’ in Berlin’s Konzerthaus
Germany Haydn: Julia Kleiter (soprano), Christian Elsner (tenor), René Pape (bass), Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus master: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin/Zubin Mehta (conductor). Konzerthaus, Berlin, 14.3.2017. (MB)
Much to Engage the Mind in Hans Neuenfels’ Production of Ariadne auf Naxos
Germany R. Strauss – Ariadne auf Naxos: Soloists, Staatskapelle Berlin / Eun Sun Kim (conductor). Schillertheater, Berlin, 11.3.2017. (MB)
Scartazzini’s Edward II Fails to Hit the Mark Despite a Fine Performance
Germany Scartazzini – Edward II: Soloists, Chorus (chorus master: Raymond Hughes) and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin / Thomas Søndergård (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 9.3.2017. (MB)
Schubert from Lupu and Barenboim Graces Berlin’s New Pierre Boulez Saal
Germany Schubert: Radu Lupu, Daniel Barenboim (piano). Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin, 8.3.2017. (MB)
The ‘1927’ Theatre Group’s Stimulating Stravinsky/Ravel Double-Bill in Berlin
Germany Stravinsky, Petrushka, and Ravel, L’Enfant et les sortilèges: Soloists, Vocalconsort Berlin (chorus master: Andrew Crooks), Children’s Choir (chorus mistress: Dagmar Fiebach) and Orchestra of the Komische Oper, Berlin / Markus Poschner (conductor). Komische Oper, Berlin, 2.3.2017. (MB)
Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Rewarding Juxtaposition of Contemporary Music with Mahler
Germany Rihm, Ligeti, and Mahler: Camilla Tilling (soprano), Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 12.2.2017. (MB)