FESTTAGE 2018: Back Unter den Linden, Daniel Barenboim presents the Staatsoper Berlin’s 23rd FESTTAGE, showcasing a new production of Verdi's »Falstaff«, a revival of Wagner’s »Parsifal« and a concert program featuring the Staatskapelle Berlin and the Wie
Press release of 9 April 2017
An outlook on one of upcoming season's highlights: From 24 March to 2 April 2018, Daniel Barenboim invites to the 23rd edition of the FESTTAGE festival. After seven years at the Schiller Theater the FESTTAGE return to the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, where they were founded by Maestro Barenboim in 1996 and since then draw a large audience from all over the world to Berlin each year. Five opera performances, two symphony concerts and a duo recital will be presented – all either conducted by Daniel Barenboim or featuring him as a piano soloist. The concert program presents the Staatskapelle Berlin, the Wiener Philharmoniker as guest orchestra as well as pianist Martha Argerich, singers Anna Prohaska, Marianne Crebassa, Anna Lapkovskaja and actress Maria Furtwängler.
The FESTTAGE premiere on 25 March will be a new production of Giuseppe Verdi's »Falstaff«, staged by Italian film and theatre director Mario Martone and with Michael Volle in the title role. The soloists further include Simone Piazzola (Ford), Maria Agresta (Mrs. Alice Ford), Nadine Sierra (Nannetta), Francesco Demuro (Fenton), Daniela Barcellona (Mrs. Quickly), Katharina Kammerloher (Mrs. Meg Page), Jürgen Sacher (Dr. Cajus), Stephan Rügamer (Bardolfo), and Jan Martiník (Pistola). Further performance dates: 28 March and 1 April.
Richard Wagner's »Parsifal«, in the successful production by Dmitri Tcherniakov, will be performed again on 30 March and 2 April – among others with Andreas Schager in the title role, Nina Stemme as Kundry and René Pape as Gurnemanz. The Staatskapelle Berlin and the Staatsopernchor will appear in both opera productions.
The concert program focuses on Gustav Mahler and Claude Debussy, both pioneers of the modern era.
The FESTTAGE will be opened on 24 March by the Wiener Philharmoniker who are invited to Berlin for the fifth time running – this time they will be performing Mahler's Seventh Symphony. Marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Debussy, the Staatskapelle Berlin along with its Musical Director will dedicate a concert solely to the works of this composer (29 March). Next to his »Fantaisie« for piano and orchestra with Martha Argerich as a soloist, the program presents his monumental opus »Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien«, a ‘Five-act mystery play’ with a text written by Gabriele D’Annunzio. The ensemble features Anna Prohaska (soprano), Marianne Crebassa (mezzosoprano), Anna Lapkovskaja (alto) and Maria Furtwängler as the speaker as well as the Staatsopernchor.
On 31 March the final FESTTAGE concert will be a duo recital dedicated to Debussy and performed by Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim. On this occasion his original piano compositions »Six épigraphes antiques«, »En blanc et noir«, »Lindaraja« and alternative versions of the orchestral works »Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune« and »La mer« for piano four-hands or for two pianos will be performed. The afternoon program will begin with the overture of Richard Wagner's »The Flying Dutchman« which Claude Debussy transcribed in 1890.
FESTTAGE 2018: 24 March to 2 April
Staatsoper Unter den Linden and Philharmonie Berlin
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