For free and outside - 20,000 people celebrate Thielemann at 'State Opera for all'
The Open-Air Event "State Opera for all" at Berlin's Staatsoper Unter den Linden delighted classical music fans on its second day under clear skies. The State Orchestra and conductor Christian Thielemann were celebrated. According to the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, approximately 20,000 people attended the concert.
Thielemann, who will be the future General Music Director, led the orchestra for the first time at this public event. The program included Richard Strauss' Alpensinfonie and Richard Wagner's Tannhauser-Ouverture.
Thielemann succeeds Barenboim
The 65-year-old Thielemann, most recently Chief Conductor of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, will officially take over the position during the 2024/2025 season.
On Friday, only a few opera fans came to the Bebelplatz in the rain. The opera "Melancholie des Widerstands" was broadcast directly from the nearby Staatsoper. Unlike usual, only a few thousand, but rather a few hundred opera fans braved the weather in the capital city.
"Melancholie des Widerstands"
At the end, there was much applause both in the opera house and outside under the open sky for the solo cast featuring Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky and the Staatskapelle under the French conductor Marie Jacquot.
The operatic film "Melancholie des Widerstands" by French composer Marc-André Dalbavie was just premiered at the Staatsoper as a commissioned work. The libretto by Guillaume Métais and David Marton is based on a novel by László Krasznahorkai. The story tells of a society on its way to authoritarian structures. Director Marton skillfully combines the elements of film and music theater in his production.
The Open-Air Event "State Opera for all" offered free admission to classic music enthusiasts, showcasing Berlin as a city that values and promotes culture. The outdoor concert at Bebelplatz was a refreshing change, providing an opportunity to enjoy Music under the open skies.
Despite the change in location and weather, the concert's atmosphere was lively, with the audience appreciating the performance of Tannhäuser-Ouverture by Richard Wagner and Alpensinfonie by Richard Strauss. The State Orchestra and Christian Thielemann's direction added an extra layer of Classic charm to the Outdoors spectacle.
The "Melancholie des Widerstands" opera, directed by Martin and starring Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, was a powerful testament to Germany's love for theater. The operatic film, a collaboration between Marc-André Dalbavie, Guillaume Métais, and David Marton, highlighted the country's rich artistic heritage.
The Beethovenplatz event saw a unique blend of the modern and the classic, demonstrating that the Oper и State Opera remain at the forefront of Germany's cultural scene, continuing the legacy started by great conductors like Daniel Barenboim and now being embraced by future leaders such as Christian Thielemann.
