Zurich goes halves on Rachmaninov
OrchestrasChief conductors of the Zurich Opera House and Tonhalle Orchestra are divvying up the composer’s 150th anniversary, which falls in April.
Noseda will conduct two concertos, a symphony and The Bells oratorio with soloists Yefim Bronfman and Francesco Piemontesi.
Paavo Järvi will take two other concertos with Piemontesi and Yuja Wang, along with the second and third symphonies.
Paavo says: ‘It is a happy coincidence that Gianandrea Noseda and I both ended up in Zurich; we have known and liked each other for a long time. And we love Rachmaninov: As an Estonian, I grew up with Russian music, Gianandrea worked in St. Petersburg for a long time. Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday is a very nice opportunity for friendly cooperation between the Tonhalle Zurich and the Zurich Opera House.’
More here.
Now there’s some happy news for once. Lucky Zurich.
Why don’t they do the three one-act operas as a triple bill on one evening?
I’ve seen this done at the opera in Brussels, unfortunately in a very bad production.
Hope this is being funded in a socio-politically correct manner.
No such thing as “socio-political” in music. It is an art (like painting) that transcends race and politics.
Not when it comes to finantzes and currentzies.
In music itself -perhaps so, but in music business which includes financing – only in your dreams, unless of course you are being sarcastic.
Now that IS funny!!
The ongoing ‘broship’ of Gianandrea and Paavo is one of the more endearing things on social media.
Agreed. This “Tram for Two” episode from Tonhalle, where the Järvi and Noseda enjoy a genial conversation during a tram ride through Zurich, was positively heartwarming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6_uVmm5Ejc
I miss the Symphonic Dances and Aleko which are among his best works.
For me, the Symphonic Dances is* the summit of Rachmaninoff’s orchestral works. It’s the work I yearn to hear, on the occasions when I yearn for his music.
*”Is” because the title, though plural, represents a single opus…
There are a number of really good recordings of the “S.D.”. Rattle/Berlin Phil./Warner; L. Slatkin/Detroit/Naxos; V. Petrenko/Royal Liverpool Phil./Avie; Nezet-Seguin/Philadelphia/DG – those four are really good, among others. “Aleko” – probably not so much.
I love The Isle of the Dead. One version of Arnold Böcklin’s masterpiece is in Basel.
What a pity they haven’t learned how to spell Rachmaninoff correctly. Every official document in existence from 1918 onwards as well as his grave has this spelling.
Why can’t people respect his wishes and spell his name as he insisted it should be spelt?