Gergiev is coming! Though the Russian maestro is a regular guest in Grafenegg, his performances at the Wolkenturm are one-of-a-kind experiences, always eagerly anticipated by audiences.
He has already created a wonderful atmosphere here with several orchestras. On this occasion he is at the helm of his Mariinsky Orchestra of St. Petersburg. Do you fancy hearing Mussorgsky's «Pictures at an Exhibition» or the «Symphonie fantastique» by Berlioz? These classics of the Romantic repertoire form the heart of his two programmes at the Wolkenturm. The first evening also features Rudolf Buchbinder as soloist in Grieg's Piano Concerto.
The festival enters its colourful finale with the Vienna Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Tonkunstler Orchestra under Lorenzo Viotti. The matinee in the Schlosspark with Composer in Residence Georg Friedrich Haas represents a first. In his performance, Haas combines two marches that contain ascending and descending scales (ascendenti - discendenti).
Composed for marching brass bands, the performance not only goes beyond the scope of the classical concert but also requires a rapprochement between brass music and contemporary composition to be realised by regional brass musicians. Listeners will accompany the bands during the marches, and thus become part of the performance.
Anyone who wants to get an insight into the very latest music creation should not miss the final concert of the composer conductor-workshop INK STILL WET on the last Sunday of the festival.