Name: Claudio Abbado conducts music from “Carmen” at the 1997 New Year’s Eve Concert
Start: 1997-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
End: 1997-12-31T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Berliner Philharmonie

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

Accordionist

Instrumentalist

Archlutenist

Baroque Flutist

Baroque Oboist

Baroque Trumpetist

Bassist

Bassoonist

Cellist

Clarinetist

Contrabassist

Cornettist

Flutist

Guitarist

Harper

Harpsichordist

Hornist

Lutenist

Mandoline Player

Musette de cour Player

Oboist

Organist

Percussionist

Pianist

Recorder Player

Saxophonist

Tenor Violinist

Timpani

Trombonist

Trumpeter

Tuba Player

Vibraphonist

Viola Pomposa Player

Viola da gamba

Viola d’amore Player

Violinist

Violino Piccolo Player

Violist

Actor

Broadcasting

Choir

Choreographer

Chorus Director

Composer

Costume designer

Dancer

Dramaturge

Executive producer

Extra

Hairstylist

Illustrator

Librettist

Lighting designer

Makeup artist

Orchestra

Orchestra Operations

Other

Photographer

Poet

Repetiteur

Set designer

Sound designer

Stage Manager

Stage director

Teacher

Translator

Video designer

Vocal coach

Wig & Makeup Designer

Writer

Writing and performance

Contralto

Countertenor

Bass

Bass-baritone

Alto

Child vocalist

Continuo

Silent

Spoken

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.

English

Claudio Abbado conducts music from “Carmen” at the 1997 New Year’s Eve Concert by Various, From (1997/1997), Conductor Claudio Abbado, Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin, Germany

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Programme, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues