10.12.2010 – Dresden Music Festival 2011 Presents Five Elements – A Bridge Between Asia and Europe
Dresden Music Festival 2011
Presents ‘Five Elements’ — A Bridge Between Asia and Europe
October 12, 2010…The Dresden Music Festival today announced its exciting line-up for the 2011 Festival which takes place from May 18 to June 5, 2011. The Festival will once again be held in some of the most beautiful and atmospheric venues in the city and region. This year’s theme, entitled “Five Elements” creates a bridge between European and Asian cultures.
The calendar of concerts – from solo recitals to chamber music to large orchestral ensembles – was developed from this powerful concept. “The theme ‘Five Elements’ was a wonderful image to work with as it allows for a lot of imagination and musical content. It is especially beautiful because we did not limit ourselves to presenting only Asian artists or music. We are emphasizing the dialogue between the orient and occident, on shared cultural values and philosophies of life” commented Jan Vogler, Intendant of the Dresden Music Festival.
The musical connections between Asia and Europe are explored through both composition and interpretation. The selection of Western composers was not determined solely by the theme “Five Elements”, as numerous works of Asian origin are linked with European music history through their use of traditional far Eastern elements.
A special evening will feature a joint concert between the Korean pop star Rain and cellist Jan Vogler designed to engage young people on both continents. In addition, cultural ambassadors including the Tokyo String Quartet and the Absolute Ensemble under Kristjan Järvi present ‘Arabian Nights’ and ‘Asian stars of tomorrow’. This concert series, held at the Schloss Wackerbarth, presents the best of the emerging generation of Asian artists who are distinguished by their interpretation of European music through the use of their stunning technique.
The concurrence of the German Protestant Kirchentag (Church Congress) and the Dresden Music Festival has offered the Festival the opportunity to explore the topics of religion and spirituality through the communication of the ‘Five Elements’ – earth, water, fire, air, spirituality. Within this context, one of the highlights will be the combined concert with the Thomanerchor Leipzig and the Kreuzchor Dresden, two of Germany’s most traditional ensembles. Other concerts will make reference to the great tradition of Saxon church music.
The Festival magic continues with the presentation of internationally renowned guest artists and orchestras: The New York Philharmonic with Alan Gilbert, the Berlin Philharmonic with Sir Simon Rattle, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra with Christoph Eschenbach will perform on the stages of Dresden, as will such artists as Heinrich Schiff, Lars Vogt, René Pape, Christian Tetzlaff and Arcadi Volodos.
As in previous years, the 2011 Festival offers U-30, a special initiative to engage the ‘under 30’ audience. Subject to special conditions, young concert -goers have access to tickets at half price.
In collaboration with diverse cultural institutions, many exciting and artistically ambitious projects have emerged. The opening night of the Festival, at the Semperoper, will celebrate our long and special relationship with the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. Led by Esa-Pekka Salonen, the orchestra will give the world-premiere of Rheingold – Ein Vorabend. David Marton, one of the most gifted young directors on the theatre scene today has been invited to present his extraordinary approach to the Nibelungenmythos. As well, in a joint collaboration with the Deutschen Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern, the Festival will premiere a new oratorio by Michael Glaus performed by the Hilliard Ensemble, under the baton of Christoph Poppen.
Two new venues will add to the variety and unique atmosphere offered by the Festival. For the first time, the Festspielhaus Hellerau will welcome the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, with its rich and individual style. And, the Gewandhaus Orchestra, conducted by Christoph Eschenbach, will conclude the journey towards the ‘Five Elements’ in the newly-renovated Albertinum with its spectacular architectural features.
The Dresden Music Festival gratefully acknowledges and thanks to Glashütte Original and Volkswagen’s Die Gläsernen Manufaktur (The Transparent Factory), whose stunning venue will once again host some of the 2011 concerts. Our thanks also to both the Ostsächsische Sparkasse Dresden and the Sparkassen-Versicherung Sachsen for its continued collaboration and generous support, to the Schloss Wackerbarth, the Radeberger Export Brewery, MCM and the friends of the Festival, without whom the exceptional projects presented would not be possible.
Also this year, the Festival is delighted to reach an even wider audience as highlights of the program will be broadcast on radio. MDR Figaro will carry the Festival’s opening concert featuring the Sächsische Staatskapelle orchestra and will also broadcast live additional concerts, including the MDR symphony orchestra.
For further information on the artists and programs including biographies and photos please contact the press office of the Dresden Music Festival at presse@musikfestspiele.com and Tel. (0351) 478 56 24/19. Photos are available for download at www.musikfestspiele.com. Tickets go on sale 01 November 2010.
We hope your interest is peaked, and that you will join us on our journey to explore the “Five Elements”.
