Critic's choice
Opera de Lille - Montag aus Licht: 18th and 19th January
Montag aus Licht is the first opera in Stockhausen's Licht cycle, dedicated to the birth of the world and humanity's feminine side through its symbols: the moon, water and childbirth.
Composed between 1984 and 1988, this opera combines instrumental virtuosity, electronic composition and technological challenges. It opens with Eva, the cosmic mother who embodies genital and sensual power, and places Monday (Montag) under the sign of creation and magic. Montag reinvents theater and pushes the boundaries of the traditional stage, creating a magical atmosphere.
The “Le Balcon” collective invites the public to attend rehearsals and listen to Stockhausen's electronic music. They will present two performances of the solo scenes, which evoke mythological tales and childhood legends, crossing cultures and beliefs.
This voyage of initiation is “an ode to the coming together of peoples through a narrative of birth” in which children are transformed into birds, while the synthesizers play notes that resemble stars suspended in the sky...
Concert
25th anniversary of Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad : from January 31st to February 8th
This year, we are delighted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad festival, which has quickly become a fixture on the musical scene.
To celebrate this event, we have decided to invite the winners of the Thierry Scherz Prize for the concerts by young talents in the Gstaad chapel. We won't be having a mentor or composer-in-residence this year, but we will be spotlighting the soloists who have gone on to become established artists: Anna Agafia, Guillaume Bellom, Jean-Paul Gasparian, Arthur Hinnewinkel, Anastasia Kobekina, Tim Posner, Timothy Ridout, who will be joined by Renaud and Gautier Capuçon for the closing concert.
Prestigious artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Isabelle Faust, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Lea Desandre, Alexandra Conunova, Christian Zacharias, the Belcea Quartet and many others will honor us with their presence at the Saanen and Rougemont churches.
We'll also have the Orchestre de chambre d'Europe conducted by Robin Ticciati, the Giardino Armonico with Giovanni Antonini and the Métaboles, a cappella, under the direction of Léo Warynski.
For young audiences, an original, never-before-seen combination of Zep and Renaud Capuçon will be presented for the first time in the morning at the Saanen church.
Discover the Yerevan International Ballet Festival on Mezzo
Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, is home to numerous cultural centers. In addition to the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, in 2023 the Yerevan Municipality established the Yerevan Youth Symphonic Orchestra, which reunites the best young musicians from Armenia.
In recent years, Yerevan Municipality has initiated several ambitious international projects, including the International Ballet Festival, Opera in the Open Air, and the Yerevan Classic Fest, where Armenian music institutions and international orchestras has been presented. These grand events have attracted tens of thousands of attendees, including tourists drawn specifically to these cultural celebrations. The Yerevan International Ballet Festival, a standout initiative, uniquely blends classical and modern, traditional and contemporary styles. It also bridges together different ballet schools and genres.
These projects, initiated by the Yerevan Municipality, are not only transformative for Armenia and the region but also aim to spotlight classical music and humanity's artistic achievements. They foster intercultural dialogue and serve as a cultural bridge between Europe and the East, enhancing Yerevan's reputation as a center for global cultural exchange.