With a programme dedicated to the second half of the 19th century, Mariss Jansons, the Vienna Philharmonic and soprano Nina Stemme offer a "superlative concert experience." (Kurier).
A brilliant reading of Richard Strauss's tone poem Don Juan, which sparkled especially in the woodwinds, opened the concert. Written in 1888, this was only the second symphonic work by the 24-year-old composer. The acclaimed premiere cemented Strauss's later reputation as the outstanding champion of late Romantic works. In his youthful exuberance he created a seductive musical monument to the erotic, mythical figure of Don Juan, which Mariss Jansons delivered in peerless quality.
In complementary style – and yet emotionally almost the opposite – were Richard Wagner's "Wesendonck Lieder" pervaded by the aura of Tristan, sung by the outstanding Swedish soprano Nina Stemme. They sounded deeply tender, almost lost in dreams, these "studies" for the opera Tristan and Isolde. Singer, orchestra and conductor were all able to draw on their long experience of this score, with the result that the songs emerge readily understandable and delivered in beautifully supple and delicate style.
To round off the concert there is the consciously down-to-earth symphonic answer of Johannes Brahms to Richard Wagner: his Symphony No. 1 in C minor. It is performed in all its complexity with wonderful solos and a deeply illuminating orchestral sound of unbelievably beautiful tone. "Jansons stimulates the philharmonic powers and leads them to produce an unparalleled quality - magical." (Der Standard)
