"Romeo and Juliet" is known by almost everyone. It's no wonder, as the famous love drama by Shakespeare has been "translated" into various art forms over the centuries: from musicals to operas to purely orchestral music. The Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev succeeded in this with his ballet music in an outstanding way. After a short initial failure, it is now considered one of the best musical adaptations of the story. This is clearly due to its quality! Not only ballet enthusiasts, but also the concert audience couldn't get enough of it - on one hand, the melting melodies, and on the other hand, the dynamic dances, sometimes outrageously virtuosic, sometimes thrilling with their powerful rhythms. At the beginning of the concert, Malte Arkona briefly introduces the piece, and afterwards, he speaks in the After Concert Talk with the artists of the evening about what makes "Romeo and Juliet" so exciting for them.

EPSG:4326

Best of Classics: Romeo and Juliet

Palace of Culture

A shared flat in Paris’s bohemian world of artists and students: The lives of the poet Rodolfo and his friends are filled with talk of freedom, independence, art, as well as financial hardship. When Rodolfo falls in love with his neighbour Mimì, everything seems to have taken a turn for the better, but poverty and Mimì’s illness overshadow the relationship. The young couple become closely attached. Later they separate, only rediscovering their love when it is already too late. At the time of its premiere in 1896, Puccini’s best-known work broke new ground in Italian opera through its prosaic scenery and everyday subject matter. This staging by Christine Mielitz of Puccini’s fourth opera is one of the most popular productions at the Semperoper.

La bohème

Semperoper Dresden

Pjotr I. Tschaikovsky’s »Nutcracker«, which premiered in St. Petersburg in 1892, is a Christmas classic as popular with Semperoper audiences as Dresden Stollen or the famous Striezelmarkt. In their interpretation, Aaron S. Watkin and Jason Beechey have drawn on the stories of E. T. A. Hoffmann to create a fairy-tale classical ballet set in Dresden during the festive period: On Christmas Eve, Marie is given a nutcracker that immediately becomes her prized possession. Soon, however, danger appears in the form a horde of belligerent mice. Then the nutcracker springs to life and does battle with the enemy army. Accompanied by her new protector, the girl embarks on a journey through a land of sweet dreams, and into adulthood.

The Nutcracker

Such a powerful piano concerto had not been heard before. When Johannes Brahms premiered his First Piano Concerto in 1859, the audience was thrilled. Few knew how many years he had struggled to complete it. Initially, he wanted to write a sonata for two pianos, but that failed. Then he reworked his ideas for an orchestra, but he was still not satisfied. Finally, the saving idea came to him: to combine the orchestra and piano. Today, the piece is considered one of the most beautiful offerings of romantic music. Prokofiev's suites for Shakespeare's famous love story are also the result of a reworking, transforming the music from a complete ballet to pure orchestral music. He personally selected the most beautiful passages for this purpose. The result is like dramatic cinema for the ears...

Brahms Piano Concerto

Podcast link: https://youtu.be/4hagYvrYbuM

The Artelize Podcast and Kasper Holten - Pedefining Opera for the modern world

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36M5Hi6O80

The Artelize Podcast - A legacy of innovation in Opera: Celebrating Marc A. Scorca

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59E40S_EQSY

The Artelize Podcast: A love letter that was never sent

Podcast link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THv6htilWtI

The Artelize Podcast and Adolfo Corrado: Mediterranean flavors, opera and social media

Mozart's piano trios are true gems of the Viennese Classical period: Light, elegant, and with a touch of humor, they showcase the brilliant side of the composer. His music radiates lightness, without ever being superficial - a delight for all who love classical music or want to discover it anew. Clara Schumann brings her own unique voice to the concert with her piano trio. Her music is poetic, passionate, and deeply moving - a glimpse into the emotional world of one of the most outstanding female musicians of the 19th century. Finally, Mendelssohn Bartholdy brings energy and drama to the room. His piano trio sparkles with melodious liveliness. It's no wonder that this work is among the most beloved in chamber music.

Mozart, Schumann, Mendelssohn

Kay and Gerta's journey to the Snow Queen and into the depths of the human soul.

The Snow Queen

Advent singing Citizens' Choir

Born into a family of musicians in Munich, her career began at an early age. Her breakthrough came at the latest with numerous prizes at the Sarasate, Paganini and Tchaikovsky competitions, which quickly took her to the world's most important stages as a soloist. As a soloist and chamber musician, Yuki Manuela Janke also inspires as concertmaster of the most traditional orchestras. Her interpretation of Richard Strauss' "Heldenleben" in the Golden Hall in Vienna with the Staatskapelle Dresden and Christian Thielemann attracted particular attention.

Evening Recital N° 2

Is the world a disc? What if it tilts? Is life just a balancing act? What happens to our society when we lose our equilibrium? Extreme situations affect the whole world, are a challenge to humanity and lead to the most diverse reactions. Kinsun Chan and Martin Zimmermann explore such situations in abstract form, examining how individuals deal with these while depicting how change, both external and internal, leads to constant struggle. The dancers perform on an unstable stage floor that can tilt with every movement. This is the precarious platform on which the performers are exposed, risking life and limb in the process. Tirelessly, they try to make connections with others, and in so doing face the challenge of losing their balance and even the ground beneath their feet. The situations shift from controlled, abstract moments to uncontrolled, surreal chaos and, finally, to redemptive liberation.

Wonderful World

Staatsschauspiel Dresden

Mozart’s most popular opera is a deeply humane story of adventure with heavenly music.

The Magic Flute

"Christmas is humbug!" grumbles the grumpy moneylender Ebenezer Scrooge, as he sits alone at home on Christmas Eve after work. Christmas joy? Not for him! Neither his nephew, who invites him to the Christmas feast, nor children singing Christmas carols can soften him. But at the stroke of midnight, his life is turned upside down: the ghost of his deceased business partner Marley appears - laden with clanking chains and an eerie warning. Scrooge must change his ways, or else face a similar fate! Before he knows it, he is taken on a moving journey through past, present, and future by the spirits of Christmas. Faced with the consequences of his actions, the icy miser gradually transforms into a man who understands the true essence of Christmas. The dramatic reading is accompanied by festive English Christmas carols sung by the Philharmonic Choir - a atmospheric evening full of goosebumps and heartwarming moments!

A Christmas Carol

Snow sparkles in the pale winter sun, a horse-drawn sleigh glides through a light birch forest. Ice flowers grow on the window pane, while the samovar boils in the room. Tchaikovsky, with his First Symphony, makes a atmospheric declaration of love to the famous-infamous Russian winter with all its manifestations. In addition, two completely different but equally fascinating piano concertos are heard: Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto bursts with energy and sophistication. It is a youthful work full of spirit and shows Prokofiev as a true virtuoso of the piano. On the other hand, Ravel's Piano Concerto "for the left hand" is characterized by darker tones and was written for the pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right hand in World War I. It is so cleverly composed that as a listener, one does not realize that in this almost 20-minute concert, piano and orchestra only play together for six minutes. A challenge for our Artist in Residence, who once again can demonstrate the full range of his abilities.

Ravel and Tchaikovsky

One of the leading composers of our time, Unsuk Chin now graces the Staatskapelle stage as Capell-Compositrice. »Subito con forza« from 2020 is her homage to Beethoven. A former student of György Ligeti, Chin’s music combines analytical acuity with evocative imagery. This work provides a stimulating contrast to Mahler’s Sixth while also provoking a conversation on structural clarity and existential expressiveness. The symphony conjures up a world of tragedy. Offering no comfort and no conciliatory finale, the »Tragic« is uncompromising in its severity. Part of the ongoing Mahler cycle, Daniele Gatti will conduct this jewel of the composer’s middle creative phase, celebrated not least for its powerful hammer blows.

Symphony Concert N° 4

The Herdmann children are the worst of all time - they steal, annoy the neighbors, lie, and are just impossible. These children have now somehow taken over the leading roles in the Christmas nativity play, even though they don't know the Christmas story at all. Everyone expects the worst performance ever. But it turns out differently - the Herdmanns' perspective on the events at the manger turns the nativity play into a very special, different performance. Let yourselves be surprised. A musical Christmas story based on the book of the same name by Barbara Robinson. Text adaptation and composition by Philipp Matthias Kaufmann.

Help, the Herdmanns are coming

“Insights into the Historical Archives’ rolling-off system” – an exciting, moderated insight into historical images, program booklets, correspondence, press reports, and anecdotes.

Case number:Andersen's fairy tales

Archivio centrale di Stato di Dresda

The Herdmann children are the worst of all time - they steal, annoy the neighbors, lie, and are just impossible. Ironically, these children have now taken on the lead roles in the Nativity play at Christmas, even though they don't know the Christmas story at all. Everyone expects the worst performance ever. But it turns out differently - the Herdmanns' perspective on the events at the manger turns the Nativity play into a very special, different performance. Let yourself be surprised. A musical Christmas story based on the book of the same name by Barbara Robinson Text adaptation and composition: Philipp Matthias Kaufmann Grades 3-6

When Jacob finds a magical fish that can grant wishes, the demands on the magical animal soon take on threatening proportions...

Gold!

Semper Zwei

Federico Kasík began his musical career at the age of 7. After being taught by Tibor Varga in Sion (Switzerland) from 1992, he took lessons with Igor Pylatyuk and Bogodar Kotorovych at the National Academy of Music in Lviv and Kiev from 1994. Due to this long-standing connection, Federico Kasík is a direct successor to the artistic and didactic lineage of Avram Jampolski and Yuri Yankelevich, two of the most successful teachers of the Russian violin school.

Chamber Music Evening N° 3

In the fairytale forest, we encounter the familiar figures of the poor siblings who have lost their way as well as the Gingerbread Witch. The story comes to a head in the famous edible house, which is sweet on the outside but a death trap within. In 1893 Engelbert Humperdinck transformed the tale by the Brothers Grimm into a work which is probably the most famous fairy-tale opera in the repertoire.

Hansel and Gretel

There are some annoying traditions, and then there are those that really make an event complete. The Christmas concert of our Philharmonic Children's Choir undoubtedly belongs to the latter! Once again this year, they invite grandparents, parents, and especially all children to listen to familiar and lesser-known Christmas songs, and to sing along to some of them. After that, the celebration can begin...

Events in Dresden

Best of Classics: Romeo a...

Dresdner Philharmonie

La bohème

Semperoper Dresden

The Nutcracker

Semperoper Dresden

Brahms Piano Concerto

Dresdner Philharmonie

The Artelize Podcast and ...

Artelize

The Artelize Podcast - A ...

Artelize

The Artelize Podcast: A l...

Artelize

The Artelize Podcast and ...

Artelize

Mozart, Schumann, Mendels...

Dresdner Philharmonie

The Snow Queen

Semperoper Dresden

Advent singing Citizens' ...

Dresdner Philharmonie

Evening Recital N° 2

Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

Wonderful World

Semperoper Dresden

The Magic Flute

Semperoper Dresden

A Christmas Carol

Dresdner Philharmonie

Ravel and Tchaikovsky

Dresdner Philharmonie

Symphony Concert N° 4

Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

Help, the Herdmanns are c...

Dresdner Philharmonie

Case number:Andersen's fa...

Semperoper Dresden

Help, the Herdmanns are c...

Dresdner Philharmonie

Gold!

Semperoper Dresden

Chamber Music Evening N° ...

Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden

Hansel and Gretel

Semperoper Dresden

Once the Lights Are Lit

Dresdner Philharmonie