Experience the enchanting melodies of the 2020 Summer Night Concert with the incomparable Valery Gergiev at the helm, accompanied by the renowned Vienna Philharmonic and the esteemed tenor Jonas Kaufmann. This captivating album, released on October 9, 2020, under Sony Classical, is a celebration of love and romance through the medium of classical music.
The concert, held annually since 2008, took place on September 18, 2020, and features a diverse repertoire of beloved operatic arias and orchestral suites. The program begins with Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier Suite, followed by excerpts from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde and Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann. The album also includes Massenet's Werther, Mendelssohn's Ein Sommernachtstraum, and Kalman's Gräfin Mariza, showcasing the versatility and depth of the performers.
Highlights of the album include the powerful Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia from Khachaturian's Spartacus, the iconic Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot, and the nostalgic Wien, Du stadt meiner Träume. The concert concludes with the lively Wiener Blut, Walzer, Op. 354, leaving the audience with a sense of joy and exhilaration.
Valery Gergiev's masterful conducting, combined with the Vienna Philharmonic's impeccable musicianship and Jonas Kaufmann's soaring vocals, makes this album a standout in the world of classical music. Whether you're a seasoned classical enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album is sure to captivate and inspire.