Kristine Opolais, Pavel Cernoch, Dmitry Belosselskiy, Elena Stikhina Headline Shostakovich Festival Leipzig 2025
By David SalazarConductor Andris Nelsons, in collaboration with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Gewandhausorchester have announced a Shostakovich Festival in Leipzig scheduled for 2025.
From May 15-June 1, 2025, the conductor and ensembles will present all of the famed composer’s symphonic works, concertos, and other major works to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his passing. Additionally, there will be a third orchestra created for the occasion, drawing from musicians of the Tanglewood Music Center, Mendelssohn Orchestra Academy, and Leipzig’s University of Music and Theatre. This ensemble will perform under BSO Assistant Conductor Anna Rakitina.
There will also be a performance of all of the composer’s 15 String Quartets by Quatuor Danel as well as other chamber and solo works.
Here is a rundown of the vocal performers on offer.
There will be a choral concert featuring the MDR Radio Chorus under Philipp Ahmann. They will be joined by pianists Maki Namekawa and Dennis Russell Davies. The showcase will feature Shostakovich’s “Die Treue” and “Antiformalist Rajok.” There will also be a performance of Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms.”
Performance Date: May 25, 2025
Kristine Opolais, Pavel Cernoch, Dmitry Belosselskiy, Matthias Stier, and Dan Karlström will star in two performances of “Lady Macbeth of Mstensk.” Andris Nelsons conducts and Francisco Negrin directs.
Performance Date: May 25 & 29, 2025
There will be a Liederabend featuring Elena Stikhina, Marina Prudenskaya, Bogdan Volkov, and Günther Groissböck. Elena Bashkirova will be at the piano.
Performance Date: May 26, 2025
There will be a second Liederabend featuring Elena Stikhina, Marina Prudenskaya, Bogdan Volkov, and Sebastian Breuninger. They are joined by cellist Christian Giger and pianist Elena Bashkirova. The showcase features music by Shostakovich and Gaetano Braga.
Performance Date: May 27, 2025
The Men of the MDR Radio Chorus, Leipzig Opera Chorus, and Gewandhaus Chorus will be featured in Symphony No. 13. Günther Groissböck will be the soloist. Andris Nelsons conducts. Also on the program is Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 2 and the Passacaglia from “Lady Macbeth of Mstensk” for organ.
Performance Date: May 28, 2025
The MDR Radio Chorus will star in a concert featuring the first three symphonies by Shostakovich. Nelsons conducts the second and third while Anna Rakitina conducts the first.
Performance Date: May 29, 2025
Kristine Opolais and Dmitry Belosselskiy headline Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 14. Andris Nelsons conducts. Also on the program is the 10th symphony.
Performance Date: June 1, 2025
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