Martha Argerich's birthday concert

By Albrecht Selge, 06 June 2016

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“every phrase was high in tension, pearlescent filigree, shaded, clear as glass, agile, potent”

Reviewed at Philharmonie: Großer Saal, Berlin on 5 June 2016

Mozart, Sonata for two pianos in D major, K448 (K375a)

Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 2 in B flat major, Op.19

Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 1 in C major, Op.15

Staatskapelle Berlin

Daniel Barenboim, Conductor, Piano

Martha Argerich, Piano

Eyes wide shut for Berlin’s new Ballo

Mark Pullinger, 29th March

At the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Rafael R Villalobos addresses the problems he perceives with Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, although the musical performances – led by Anna Netrebko – compensate.

***11

Young stars shine in the Staatsoper Berlin’s Rosenkavalier

Mark Pullinger, 28th March

Patricia Nolz makes an outstanding role debut as Christian Thielemann conducts a thrusting Rosenkavalier to open the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's Festtage.

*****

Love is in the hare: a new Cunning Little Vixen opens in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 28th February

The Staatsoper's new production of Janáček's opera buzzes with life thanks to Sir Simon Rattle's conducting and an excellent cast led by Vera-Lotte Boecker and Magdalena Kožená.

****1

Pintscher’s Das kalte Herz premieres at Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Elena Luporini, 14th January

On a snowy January evening, the premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s new opera Das kalte Herz fails to warm up the Berlin public.

**111

Happy 100th birthday, Wozzeck! Thielemann leads Berlin revival

Elena Luporini, 14th December

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden celebrates the 100th birthday of Alban Berg's masterpiece with a stellar cast in Andrea Breth’s revived production.

***11

Low on laughs: Die schweigsame Frau in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 19th July

Newly General Music Director Christian Thielemann and Jan Philipp Gloger bring Richard Strauss' Die schweigsame Frau to the Staatsoper Berlin for the first time, but la commedia is hardly stupenda.

**111

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Albrecht Selge

Albrecht Selge lebt als freier Schriftsteller in Berlin. Sein Roman wach (2011) über den schlaflosen Manager eines Shopping Centers wurde mehrfach ausgezeichnet. Sein neuer Roman Die trunkene Fahrt erscheint im Herbst 2016 bei Rowohlt Berlin. Er führt den Musikblog Hundert11 - Konzertgänger in Berlin.

“That I am stuck in music": Martha Argerich’s birthday concert in Berlin