Renée Fleming Sophie Koch Diana Damrau Franz Hawlata Jonas Kaufmann Franz Grundheber

Home , Helmut Deutsch, Herbert Wernicke, Jane Henschel, Jonas Kaufmann, Sophie Koch

UNITEL and CLASSICA present

Der Richard Strauss ROSEN- KAVALIER Münchnerh Philharmonikerhilh ik · CChristianh i i Thielemannhi l Renée Fleming · Sophie Koch · Diana Damrau · Franz Hawlata · Jonas Kaufmann · Franz Grundheber

Richard Strauss Der ROSEN- KAVALIER

Music by Richard Strauss he best of the best assembled on stage,” wrote Germany’s leading newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Conductor Christian Thielemann “T Zeitung after the premiere of Richard Strauss’ “Der Orchestra Münchner Philharmoniker Rosenkavalier” at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden. Indeed, it Chorus Philharmonia Chor Wien would be hard to !nd a more ideal cast for this late-Romantic Chorus Master Walter Zeh Rococo pastiche anywhere in the world. As the Marschallin, Feldmarschallin Renée Fleming stellar soprano Renée Fleming uses her velvety tones and Octavian Sophie Koch autumnal shadings to complement the youthfully lyrical and Sophie Diana Damrau dynamic voice of Sophie Koch as her young lover Octavian. Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau Franz Hawlata Diana Damrau’s Sophie enhances the trio’s sparkle with her An Italian Singer Jonas Kaufmann ethereal high notes. Next to Franz Hawlata as a swaggering Herr von Faninal Franz Grundheber Baron Ochs and the always impressive Franz Grundheber as Marianne Leitmetzerin Irmgard Vilsmaier Faninal, the Baden-Baden production rounds off its male leads Valzacchi Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke with international tenor star Jonas Kaufmann as the “Italian Annina Jane Henschel Singer.” After the original stage production by Herbert Wernicke Leading his Münchner Philharmoniker, acclaimed Directed by Brian Large Romantic specialist Christian Thielemann revels in Strauss’s lustrous melancholy and obtains a rarely heard transparency Length approx. 200' from the brass and woodwinds. Bolstered by these solid By courtesy of Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG orchestral underpinnings, Herbert Wernicke’s Salzburg Festival production – which also scored a great success at A production of UNITEL Paris’ Opéra de la Bastille – has been polished and trimmed in coproduction with ZDF/3sat and CLASSICA here by Alejandro Stadler. It places the cast of fabulous singers in cooperation with Festspielhaus Baden-Baden in a sumptuous setting of timeless elegance dominated by a shot in HDTV 1080 play of mirrors re$ecting the shifting emotions of the lead Cat. no. A05017185 trio.

Recorded in high de!nition by UNITEL CLASSICA in Baden-Baden, this “deluxe Rosenkavalier” (The Sunday Times) sets a standard that will long be unsurpassed. Design: luebbeke.com

BEETHOVEN 9 hristian Thielemann, one of the most recognized THE COMPLETE SYMPHONIES conductors of our time, joins forces with the prestigious Wiener Philharmoniker and UNITEL, the world’s Conductor Christian Thielemann C leading audiovisual production company for classical music, in a Orchestra Wiener Philharmoniker monumental project: BEETHOVEN 9, the recording of all nine RECORDING SCHEDULE symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven for TV, DVD and New Media: the “Beethoven cycle of the 21 st century”! Symphony No. 1 in C major, op. 21 Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 36 Using the newest technology of our century, UNITEL Coriolan Overture, op. 62 and Austrian Television (ORF) produce this “super-cycle” in the Recording: December 2008 – already available Golden Hall of Vienna’s Musikverein in HD and 5.0 Surround Sound. BEETHOVEN 9 kicked off in December 2008 with the Symphony No. 3 in E "at major, op. 55 “Eroica” recording of the First and Second Symphonies. At the rate of two Symphony No. 4 in B "at major, op. 60 recordings per year, the cycle will be completed by April 2010. Recording: March 2009 – available in June 2009 The genesis and unfolding of this project will be accompanied by a Symphony No. 7 in A major, op. 92 documentary lmed in HD . Symphony No. 8 in F major, op. 93 Between 2010 and 2013 the orchestra will crown the Egmont Overture, op. 84 venture with special event performances of the complete cycle in Recording: November 2009 major cities around the world. These concert cycles will rank among Symphony No. 5 in C minor, op. 67 the musical highlights of these years. They will be accompanied by Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastorale” the recordings, which will be released prior to the start of the Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125 “Choral” world tour, when international attention is at its peak. Music lovers Annette Dasch, Mihoko Fujimura, Piotr Beczala, Robert Holl, can enjoy Beethoven’s symphonies either live in the host cities or Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Wien on television, Internet or DVD. Live transmission from the Golden Recording: April 2010 Hall is possible already during the recording stage. All recording dates and the cast (Symphony No. 9) are subject to change. BEETHOVEN 9 brings to a new climax the longstanding Please contact us for the exact recording dates, the post production schedule and the possibility of live transmissions before each concert. collaboration between Thielemann, who enjoys a sterling reputation as an interpreter of Beethoven and the German Romantics, and From the Golden Hall of Vienna’s Musikverein the Wiener Philharmoniker, which has been cultivating the music of Beethoven since its founding nearly 170 years ago and is one of the A production of UNITEL and ORF few great orchestras to have preserved its unique sound. UNITEL in coproduction with CLASSICA CLASSICA can look back on more than 40 years of collaboration with the Wiener Philharmoniker and on its pioneering cycles of shot in HDTV 1080 Beethoven’s symphonic works with Herbert von Karajan and Cat. no.: A045005410000 Leonard Bernstein. Design: luebbeke.com

WORLD SALES: C Major Entertainment

Rolando Villazón Handel Arias Handel Arias

Rolando Villazón

ROLANDO VILLAZÓN – HANDEL ARIAS t would be hard to imagine a more seductive hero, a more passionate performer, a more glorious interpreter of the great Romantic roles of Verdi and Puccini than Music by George Frideric Handel RolandoI Villazón. Yet the singer’s temporary withdrawal from the spotlight in 2007 opened up a wealth of new possibilities for the singer. Among the “new paths” that Villazón envisioned for Conductor Paul McCreesh the future were “adventures” such as Baroque music. Next to Orchestra Gabrieli Players a recording of works by the early Baroque composer Claudio Monteverdi (available from UNITEL CLASSICA), he now offers a Soloist Rolando Villazón (Tenor) selection of arias by George Frideric Handel. Rebecca Bottone (Soprano) Timothy Travers-Brown (Countertenor) This intimate concert featuring Villazón and the Gabrieli Players under Paul McCreesh was !lmed in a setting that ideally Video Director Henning Kasten suits the style of the music, St. Paul’s Church in Deptford, near London, one of Britain’s !nest Baroque churches. It was built Length Different lengths available between 1712 and 1730, almost exactly when Handel was writing Recorded at St. Paul’s Church in Deptford his most celebrated operas and oratorios.

A production of UNITEL Villazón proves that he is a master of dazzling coloratura, in coproduction with ZDF and CLASSICA virtuoso runs and expressive cantabile melodies. Among the highlights of the concert – which also includes two purely orchestral

works – are the beloved arioso “Ombra mai fù” from Serse , shot in HDTV 1080 Grimoaldo’s aria “Pastorello d’un povero armento” from Rodelinda , Cat. no. A025045370000 the lyrical, longing “Scherza in!da” from Ariodante , and Bajazet’s spirited aria “Ciel e terra armi di sdegno” from Tamerlano . Villazón is joined by soprano Rebecca Bottone and countertenor Timothy Travers-Brown in the death scene of Bajazet from Tamerlano . Design: luebbeke.com

Anne-Sophie

The

Project

Program 1 Soloists Orchestra Conductor Conductor Music by Program 2 Directed by THE MENDELSSOHN PROJECT MENDELSSOHN THE ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER in co-production with CLASSICA and ZDF for ARTE ARTE for ZDF and CLASSICA with co-production in Violin concerto in Eminor, in op. concerto Violin 64 Cat. Cat. A04500548 no. (Documentary, directed by Atteln) Günter Mendelssohn with Encounters Cat. A05512289no. Piano TrioPiano Dminor, in op. 49 Cat. Cat. A05512287no. Sonata in Fmajor in Sonata Cat. A055122880001no. A production of UNITEL and and UNITEL of A production Deutsche Grammophon Grammophon Deutsche shot in HDTV 1080 HDTV in shot VIOLIN CONCERTO CONCERTO VIOLIN

Agnes Méth Méth Agnes André PrevinAndré Lynn Harrell Anne-Sophie MutterAnne-Sophie LeipzigGewandhausorchester Felix MendelssohnFelix Kurt Masur CHAMBER MUSICCHAMBER

25' (Violin concerto) (Cello/Trio) (Piano/Trio)

29' 18' (Violin) 32' 50' 54' Violin in Concerto E minor op. 64 Anne-Sophie Mutter – Mutter Anne-Sophie Encounters with Mendelssohn Year, UNITEL CLASSICA also produced the documentary documentary the produced also CLASSICA UNITEL Year, The artist and teacher, who promotes young musicians and musicians young promotes who teacher, and artist The Sonata Award,Leipzig Award.the also but Mendelssohn award The +49-(0)3030306464 ·[email protected] WORLD SALES:CMajor Entertainment wre nt ny h petgos rs vn imn Music Siemens von Ernst prestigious the only not awarded major venue every at throughout world. the 2008In she was a stunning anthology of chamber and orchestral music from music orchestral and chamber of anthology stunning a one of the most vibrant composers of the early romantic era,romantic early the of composers vibrant most the of one why she particularly admireswhy here. works the sheparticularly presented commissions new works from contemporary composers, made ceremony in March 2008 was crowned by at a gala concert Harrell and André Previn. On the occasion of the Mendelssohn her spectacular breakthrough under Herbert von Karajan at at Karajanvon Herbert under breakthrough spectacular her Kurt Masur, at which Mutter performed the the performed Mutter which at Masur, Kurt Leipzig’s Gewandhaus with the Gewandhaus Orchestra under edlsh (8914) n vrey f instrumentations. of variety (1809–1847) a in Mendelssohn rjc” vial fo UIE CASC. e n cellist the interpret and now Harrell Lynn He CLASSICA. UNITEL from available Project” “Mozart her of part are that Trios Mozart several in Mutter performers performers also include Mutter’s chamber-music partners L performed by top artists of today! by artists top performed renowned conductor and composer. Previn accompanied accompanied Previn composer. and conductor renowned In addition to Mutter, Masur and the Leipzig orchestra, the the orchestra, Leipzig the and Masur Mutter, to addition In the 1977the Salzburg Easter Festival. She has since concertized the artist discusses her afﬁnity to Mendelssohn and explain and Mendelssohn to afﬁnity her discusses artist the ie i hr aer Jiig e in her Joining career. her in times o is pianistis Previn,André internationally an alsois who The recording offers a selection of masterpieces by masterpieces of selection a offers recording The countless people countless who people rarely listen to classical music. utr s mscl eert kon vn by even known celebrity musical a is Mutter Anne-Sophie violinists, foremost world’s the of ne utr a promd h Voi Cnet several Concerto Violin the performed has Mutter D minor Triominor D presented here. presented edlsh’ Violin Mendelssohn’s with her. This is This her. with Mendelssohn Mendelssohn , in which ynn s

Photos: © Harald Hoffmann/DG UNITEL and CLASSICA present Recital with Diana Damrau and Robert Schumann Xavier Gabriel Fauré de Maistre Claude Debussy Richard Strauss Recital with Diana Damrau and Xavier de Maistre

ne of the warmest personalities on the opera and concert stage today, soprano Diana Damrau has put together a O beguiling program for her recital at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden. The selection of Romantic to !n-de-siècle pieces not only underscores her own vocal artistry, but also pays tribute to her accompanist Xavier de Maistre and, in particular, to the FROM THE FESTSPIELHAUS BADEN-BADEN diaphanous delicacy of his instrument, the harp.

RECITAL WITH DIANA DAMRAU The use of the harp to replace the piano in a voice recital is a AND XAVIER DE MAISTRE truly unique and unexpected musical treat. De Maistre does more than simply transpose the piano part to his instrument; under the !ngers of the Wiener Philharmoniker’s solo harpist, the ethereal Music by Robert Schumann sound of this instrument melds consummately with the soprano’s Gabriel Fauré !nely honed vocal part, so that the masterpieces by composers Claude Debussy such as Schumann, Fauré and Debussy sound as if they had been Richard Strauss conceived for voice and harp. Soloists Diana Damrau (soprano) The unrivalled intimacy of a chamber concert is conveyed by the Xavier de Maistre (harp) placing of the soloists and public within touching distance on the Directed by Brian Large stage of the Festspielhaus. This distinctly informal atmosphere is captured by Emmy Award winning director Brian Large. Discreetly Length tbc highlighting the interpretative subtleties and spontaneous personality of Diana Damrau, he helps con!rm her status as one of A production of UNITEL the most exciting, expressive and, above all, natural and unaffected in coproduction with CLASSICA sopranos of our time. shot in HDTV 1080 Diana Damrau can also be seen and heard on the UNITEL Cat. no.: A055124120000 CLASSICA recordings of Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier in a stellar production from the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, as well as in the two “M22” productions of Mozart’s Ascanio in Alba and Die Zauber!öte from the 2006 Salzburg Festival. Design: luebbeke.com

WORLD SALES: C Major Entertainment Photos: © Andrea Kremper All rights reserved · credits not contractual · Different territories +49-(0)3030306464 · [email protected] UNITEL and CLASSICA present SKRYABIN RAVEL SCHUMANN LISZT

or the !rst time in over nine years, Arcadi F Volodos has agreed to record an entire concert for TV again. Indeed, his recital at Vienna’s Musikverein, for which he has chosen works FROM THE GOLDEN HALL OF VIENNA’S MUSIKVEREIN by Skryabin, Ravel, Schumann and Liszt, features a line- RECITAL ARCADI VOLODOS up of Romantic to early 20th-century heavyweights, which Volodos renders with his inimitable blend of ethereal lightness and forceful vigor ALEXANDER SKRYABIN Prélude in B "at minor, Op. 37 No. 1 The recital begins with a selection of pieces by Prélude in B "at minor, Op. 11 No. 16 Alexander Skryabin, in which Volodos displays his “Dance languide“, Op. 51 No. 4 phenomenal technique, culminating in the White “Guirlandes“, Op. 73 Mass. Under Volodos’ hands, Maurice Ravel’s Valses Sonata No. 7, Op. 64 “White Mass” nobles et sentimentales becomes “a kaleidoscope of MAURICE RAVEL transparent, gossamer colors” (Die Presse). While Valses nobles et sentimentales Volodos’ account of Schumann’s Waldszenen "ashes with startling harmonic echoes of the Ravel piece, his ROBERT SCHUMANN rendition of Liszt’s Après une lecture de Dante from “Waldszenen”, Op. 82 the Années de Pèlerinage “radiates modernity” (Der FRANZ LISZT Standard). The keyboard sensation provides a further “Après une lecture du Dante“ example of his artistry in his encores, in which he Fantasia quasi Sonata from: „Années de demonstrates his talent for creating his own dazzling Pèlerinage, Deuxième année: Italie“ piano transcriptions of works by other composers. In an interview recorded on the occasion of the Vienna Soloist Arcadi Volodos (piano) recital, Volodos discusses many aspects of his career, Directed by Michael Beyer his playing, and his life. Length approx. 90' Born in St. Petersburg in 1972, Arcadi Volodos A production of UNITEL burst onto the musical scene as consummate and Sony Classical virtuoso and full-"edged master of expressiveness in coproduction with NHK, practically overnight: since he refused to take part in ZDF/arte and CLASSICA competitions in his youth, he was discovered almost by chance in the late 1990s. He made his international shot in HDTV 1080 breakthrough with his !rst recording, a collection of Cat. no.: A045005510000 bravura transcriptions that brought him epithets such as “young sorcerer” and “new Horowitz” – plaudits con!rmed by the many awards he has since received for his recordings and the many prestigious venues at which he has played. Design: luebbeke.com

A SEARCH FOR SINGERS WITH A SEARCH FOR SINGERS WITH THOMAS QUASTHOFF

nce upon a time there was a king who took great delight in the melody of a little bird outside his DOCUMENTARY window. Then, as winter came, the bird disappeared “The Most Beautiful Song” O and the king grew melancholy. Three brave men set out A search for singers with Thomas Quasthoff to !nd one that could sing “the most beautiful song.” Did Directed by Tilo Krause they succeed? What begins as an enchanting fairy tale turns into exciting reality in this documentary on the !rst edition Length approx. 60' of baritone Thomas Quasthoff’s new international song Cat. no.: A05512410 competition for young singers, “Das Lied.” With the fairy tale gently articulating the course of the competition, the !lm sweeps the viewer away on a thrilling “search for singers.” GALA CONCERT Music by Robert Schumann Thomas Quasthoff founded this contest to ensure that the Franz Schubert Lied, which the baritone calls “the most beautiful form of music making,” continues to hold its place in the concert repertoire Length approx. 50' of the future. The !lm accompanies some of the young singers Recorded at Apollo Hall of Staatsoper during the competition’s three rounds, providing a showcase Unter den Linden Berlin not only for beautiful voices and poignant Lieder, but also, and above all, for emotions. The hopes and disappointments, the Cat. no.: A05512411 joys and doubts, the tension and exhilaration of the young singers are all captured on !lm. And it soon emerges that the The competition contest is as stimulating and galvanizing for the jurors as it is Das Lied – International Song Competition for the contestants! Excerpts from the closing gala concert was made possible by the generous support of recorded at the sumptuous Apollo Hall of the Staatsoper Brigitte and Arend Oetker and Johanna Quandt. Unter den Linden Berlin round off the !lm. A program of highlights from the gala concert is also available separately. A production of UNITEL In addition to Thomas Quasthoff, one of the top baritones in coproduction with rbb and CLASSICA and Lied singers of our day, the jury includes such distinguished in cooperation with vocalists as Brigitte Fassbaender and Annette Dasch, as well Das Lied – International Song Competition as the famed accompanists Helmut Deutsch and Charles shot in HDTV 1080 Spencer. Among the prizewinners who perform at the gala concert are German baritone Tobias Berndt and Austrian baritone Daniel Schmutzhard. According to Quasthoff, the goal of this project is to !nd the successors to the greatest singers of today and to discover new voices. It is, in essence, very much like the melancholy king’s search for his little bird

and its unforgettable melody… Design: luebbeke.com