Christoph Eschenbach, the Orchestre de Paris and Maxim Vengerov

Beginning of October, reunion between Christoph Eschenbach and the Orchestre de Paris. The German maestro was the musical director of the orchestra during 10 years, and he regularly comes back to conduct them. They were playing with violinist Maxim Vengerov, born in the USSR some 40 years ago.

Gathered at the Philharmonie de Paris, violinist, conductor and orchestra gave a very fine reading of Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, in its original version, with a 1st movement Allegro moderato absolutely fabulous, all performers being on the same page.

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Robert Schumann: Scenes from Goethe’s Faust

Another very successful concert at the Philharmonie de Paris from September 2016, was Robert Schumann’s Scenes from Goethe’s Faust, performed by the Orchestre de Paris conducted by Daniel Harding, the Orchestre de Paris Choir & the Orchestre de Paris Children Choir and an array of leading singers: Franz-Josef Selig (bass), Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Hanna-Elisabeth Müller (soprano), Mari Eriksmoen (soprano), Bernarda Fink (mezzo), Andrew Staples (tenor) and Tareq Nazmi (bass).

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Mozart with Menahem Pressler and musicians from the Orchestre de Paris

Menahem Pressler, Orchestre de Paris, Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique, Paris, May 5 2012

The Orchestre de Paris, one of France leading orchestras – which I had the chance to admire under conductors such as Carlo Maria Giulini, Georg Solti, Kurt Sanderling, Pierre Boulez or Daniel Barenboim to name but a few – organized a Mozart chamber music weekend in the elegant hall of the Conservatoire d’Art Dramatique. They invited legendary pianist Menahem Pressler, the co-founder of the Beaux-Arts Trio who played during all its 53 years of existence, who remains as active as ever in his 88th year! Continue reading