Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 2010

29/04/10: Die Frau ohne Schatten

Zubin Mehta will conduct Die Frau ohne Schatten by Richard Strauss to a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal (29 April and 2, 5 and 8 May). The production, directed by Yannis Kokkos, will be performed by Torsten Kerl, Adrianne Pieczonka, Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet, Albert Dohmen, Lioba Braun, and Samuel Youn and the Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

The three act opera that was completed in 1915, during World War I – and first performed in 1919 – is considered the Viennese composer’s masterpiece. Strauss and his friend/collaborator Hofmannsthal worked in synergy to produce the book and music. The libretto, based on Goethe’s Unterhaltungen (Conversations), with touches of The Thousand and One Nights, Grimm’s fairytales and Goethe’s own Faust, revolves around the theme of love blessed through the birth of children.

It is the story of a gazelle who is captured and transformed into a princess, but she has no shadow which means that she is not human, and she is given three days to acquire a shadow… or else. The score demands an orchestra with a wide range of instruments, several different voices and very complex staging.

19-24/02/10: Adriana Lecouvreur

Adriana Lecouvreur, Francesco Cilea’s masterpiece, conducted by Bruno Bartoletti with an impressive Art Nouveau setting designed by Ivan Stefanutti; the international cast includes soprano Adina Nitescu making her debut and Fabio Sartori, Juan Pons, Stefano Antonucci and Marianne Cornetti.

Adriana Lecouvreur came about thanks to Edoardo Sonzogno, the indefatigable publisher of ‘Giovane Scuola’. By commissioning Cilea to write an opera about the famous actress who was admired by Voltaire, loved by Maurizio, Count of Saxony Count and who died very young (it is said that she was poisoned by a rival), Sonzogno hoped to repeat the success of Arlesiana (1897). Don’t miss this!.

Other not-to-miss performances at the Teatro Comunale:

• 5 and 7/02/10: Ryan McAdams conductor, Lars Vogt pianist will perform Schumann’s Concerto and other pieces for orchestra including The Firebird (Suite) by Igor Stravinsky.
• 13 and 14/03/10: the world-famous conductor Daniel Oren will direct Antonín Dvořák’s Stabat Mater for soloists, chorus and orchestra.
• 19 and 20/03/10: Mikhail Pletnev conductor, Tamaki Kawakubo violin will perform Concerto in D major, Op. 35 for violin and orchestra by Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, and Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 26 by Alexander Scriabin.
• 26 and 28/03/10: Marc Albrecht conductor, Michaela Kaune, soprano: Richard Strauss – Träumerei am Kamin (Dreaming by the Fireside), interlude from the opera Intermezzo op. 72; Alban Berg – Sieben frühe Lieder for soprano and orchestra, Johannes Brahms/Arnold Schönberg – Quartet in G minor op. 25 for Piano and Strings, version for orchestra.
• 01/04/10: the final symphony concert of the season: Tomas Netopil conductor, Andrea Dankova soprano, Jolana Fogas, mezzo-soprano, Kor-Jan Dusseljee tenor, Martin Gurbal basso.
  Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor op. 120: Leóš Janáček: Glagolitic Mass for soloists, chorus, organ and orchestra with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino; Chorus Master, Pietro Monti.

Teatro Comunale, Florence
(Corso Italia, 16)
www.maggiofiorentino.it