Organization

Conductor

Claudio Abbado

Chorus master

José Antonio Sainz Alfaro

Singer

Mezzo-soprano

Anne Sofie von Otter

Soprano

Véronique Gens

Stella Doufexis

Tenor

Roberto Alagna

Baritone

Bryn Terfel

Berliner Philharmoniker

Claudio Abbado conducts music from “Carmen” at the 1997 New Year’s Eve Concert

Berlin

Germany

Berliner Philharmonie

Carmen is not only a character in an opera, she is also a myth: the epitome of beauty, seduction and the freedom from all social fetters. In their New Year’s Eve Gala from 1997, the Berliner Philharmoniker and Claudio Abbado take on this myth. They are supported by outstanding vocal and instrumental soloist including Anne Sofie von Otter, Roberto Alagna, Bryn Terfel, Mikhail Plentnev and Gil Shaham.

Claudio Abbado conducts music from “Carmen” at the 1997 New Year’s Eve Concert: Concert Various

Public

Concert

Approved

Carmen is not only the eponymous heroine of what is probably the most popular opera in the world, she is also a myth: the epitome of beauty, seduction and the freedom from all social fetters. In their New Year’s Eve Gala from 1997, the Berliner Philharmoniker and Claudio Abbado take on this myth with a top-class ensemble of singers and instrumental soloists. 

The concert opens of course with excerpts from Bizet’s opera. The Swedish singer Anne Sofie von Otter in the title role never comes across as a cool Scandinavian, but enchants the whole hall with her sometimes alluring, sometimes scornful mezzo-soprano. Bryn Terfel, the vigorous Welsh baritone is a self-confident Escamillo, while the tenor Roberto Alagna embodies the hopelessly in love Don José with gently melodiousness.

Rachmaninov’s Paganini Variations – played crisply and with fullness of tone by Mikhail Plentnev – convey a very similar tonal and expressive world to Bizet’s opera. This musical world is then seen again from a violinist’s perspective with Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy. The soloist is Gil Shaham, mastering the breath-taking technical difficulties as a matter of course. Ravel’s Rapsodie espagnole shows that the Spanish spirit is not only bathed in sunlight, but also has its dark side, before the Berliner Philharmoniker once again demonstrate their brilliance in two short final pieces.

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