Organization

Conductor

Claudio Abbado

Bass

Anatolij Kotscherga

Orchestra

Berliner Philharmoniker

1996 Europakonzert from St. Petersburg with Claudio Abbado

There are not many opera houses that deserve the attribute “legendary”, but the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg is certainly one of them. In 1996, the Berliner Philharmoniker and Claudio Abbado held their Europakonzert there, presenting a Russian-German programme full of colour and verve – which included Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet (which had received its premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre) and Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.

1996 Europakonzert from St. Petersburg with Claudio Abbado: Concert Various

Public

Concert

Approved

Instrumentalist

Pianist

Violinist

Cellist

Violist

Flutist

Clarinetist

Guitarist

Organist

Percussionist

hornist

Oboist

Bassoonist

Trumpeter

Contrabassist

Trombonist

Harper

Saxophonist

Harpsichordist

Bassist

Accordionist

Tuba Player

Recorder Player

Lutenist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Mandoline Player

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Violino Piccolo Player

Viola da gamba

Musette de cour Player

Viola Pomposa Player

Archlutenist

Vibraphonist

Cornettist

Viola d’amore Player

Theorbist

Composer

Stage director

Librettist

Set designer

Costume designer

Choreographer

Lighting designer

Dancer

Actor

Chorus master

Video designer

Dramaturge

Translator

Sound designer

Repetiteur

Makeup artist

Executive producer

Hairstylist

Other

Stage Manager

Choir

Poet

Vocal coach

Teacher

Photographer

Broadcasting

Illustrator

Writer

Writing and performance

Chorus Director

Wig & Makeup Designer

Orchestra Operations

Extra

Bass-baritone

Singer

Mezzo-soprano

Tenor

Countertenor

Contralto

Soprano

Baritone

Spoken

Child vocalist

Silent

Alto

Continuo

There are not many opera houses that deserve the attribute “legendary”, but the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, where both Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker received their premieres, is certainly one of them. So it was a special experience for the Berliner Philharmoniker and Claudio Abbado to perform their European Concert on this stage in 1996. 

At the same time, the musicians celebrated a small anniversary, as it was one hundred years ago that the orchestra had performed in Russia for the first time, as part of the festivities for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II. With reference to their hosts, the musicians opened the concert with excerpts from Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet, which had also been given its premiere there. The Russian-themed part of the concert closed with a powerful performance of the Cavatina from Rachmaninov’s opera Aleka by Anatoli Kotscherga. 

The second part of the concert with Beethoven’s Violin Romances is linked to the Cavatina in as far as they also bring operatic scenes to mind with their shifting between beauty of sound and dramatic expression. The soloist is Kolja Blacher, who was first concertmaster of the Berliner Philharmoniker from 1993 to 1999. The concert came to a close with Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, whose piano reduction Beethoven had dedicated to the Russian Tsarina Elisabeth Alexeyavna. In the words of BBC Music Magazine, the work was given “an exhilarating [performance] characterised by glossy strings and sprightly wind solos”.

English

1996 Europakonzert from St. Petersburg with Claudio Abbado by Various, Wed 01 May 1996, From (1996/1996), Conductor Claudio Abbado

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues