The Christmas Oratorio is undoubtedly one of Johann Sebastian Bach's most popular works. It consists of six cantatas intended for Christmas Eve, the two Christmas holidays, New Year's Day, the Sunday after New Year's Day and the Feast of the Epiphany…

On the island of Ceylon, two pearl fishermen and childhood friends are torn apart by their love for the same woman, the young priestess Leïla. In this opera, which marks his debut, Bizet delivers luminous, tender music with a subtle Oriental flavour…

Celebrating Bedřich Smetana’s 200th anniversary 2024 Live signal available, 8 June 2024, 8:15 pm CET From the Festival Hall in Litomysl, Czech Republic Bedrich Smetana (2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884) is regarded as the founder of Czech music. His father…

Richard Strauss’s Elektra was the sensation that ushered in modernity by at the same time popularizing it. Heroes on the verge of madness, just what the audience loves! The world comes tumbling down upon us, specifically here: the Straussian…

At her wedding reception, the beautiful but depressed Justine spots a red star in the sky. It is the planet Melancholia, which is on a collision course with Earth. The bridegroom Michael tries to calm her down with his love, her mother Gaby poisons…

The Verbier Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary with arguably the most phenomenal gathering of soloists in classical music. This all-star program is devised in three parts focusing on strings, piano and orchestra. This exuberant reunion of…

What a strange idea Mondonville had! Based on a cruel fable by La Fontaine with a tragic ending, he wrote a charming opera libretto with a happy ending, and composed a delightful pastoral. In the prologue, Dame Clémence Isaure, the mythical founder…

Orchestras once played Bach as well as Bruckner. Only specialised ensembles showed that note and performance signs have changed their meaning quite a bit over the centuries. So far, so theoretical: in practice, Handel's "Il Trionfo" awaits us, a…

After over four decades together, the Emerson String Quartet disbands in the Fall of 2023 and plays in concert halls across the US and Europe for the very last time. We accompany the Quartet in Prague for a performance with music by the German…

The Verbier Festival Orchestra, under the baton of one of the greatest Mahlerians of our time, Michael Tilson Thomas, perform the Austrian composer’s Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, an ode to nature. This concert, the climax of the 2016 Verbier Festival…