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Easter Festival 2018 in Baden-Baden

The 2018 Easter Festival of the Berliner Philharmoniker in Baden-Baden is built around Richard Wagner’s Parsifal. This masterwork is conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and directed by Dieter Dorn. There are of course also a lot of orchestra concerts, chamber music, a children’s opera, a chamber opera and various musical activities throughout the beautiful town of Baden-Baden. This year also marks the last Easter Festival for Sir Simon Rattle as chief conductor of our orchestra.

 

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Final applause
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Sir Simon and the legendary Robert Lloyd, Titurel
Andreas Mölich-Zebhauser, General Manager of Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, thanks Sir Simon with the grail and a very special cuckoo clock.
Sir Simon expresses his gratitude
Well...

04 Apr 2018

... and farewell from this year's Easter Festival...

... Sir Simon's last edition as chief conductor of our orchestra. We had a wonderful time! Big thank you to the team of Festspielhaus Baden-Baden.

Gerald Finley as Amfortas
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
A special thank you to the backstage crew!

04 Apr 2018

Farewell from a wonderful cast

Luis Felipe Coelho, 1st violin
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Principal double bass Matthew McDonald
Ulrich Knörzer, viola

04 Apr 2018

Dernière Parsifal

Last performance of Parsifal in Baden-Baden...

Lunch concert in Berlin...
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
....and master concert at the beautiful Florentinersaal of the Baden-Baden casino.

02 Apr 2018

The circle is complete

...  a packed house in Berlin as well as in Baden-Baden: Chamber music with Cornelia Gartemann and Christoph von der Nahmer, violins, Julia Gartemann, viola, Martin Menking, cello, and Paul Rivinius, piano.

Final chord
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
A birthday song for Lenny's 100th as encore
April Fool's trick? One stand of the 1st violins was without Beethoven parts... Sir Simon took it with humour.
Final applause for the last concert with Sir Simon Rattle as chief conductor of our orchestra in Baden-Baden.

02 Apr 2018

Second concert with Krystian Zimerman

Kotowa Machida, violin, Cordelia Höfer, piano, and Götz Teutsch, inventor of the salon and narrator
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Principal cellist Bruno Delepelaire
Kotowa Machida

02 Apr 2018

Philharmonic salon

... at the Orangerie of Brenner's Park-Hotel

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)

02 Apr 2018

Easter bunny looks for hiding places

Happy Easter from everybody here in Baden-Baden!

Stephan Koncz, cello
(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
Georg Schreckenberger, French horn
Maja Avramović, 1st violin
Vilde Frang and Ivan Fischer
Mari Eriksmoen, soprano, Ingeborg Gillebo, mezzo-soprano, ladies of the Philharmonia Choir Vienna and Ivan Fischer with A Midsummernight's Dream by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

02 Apr 2018

Concert with Vilde Frang and Ivan Fischer

Ho-Hsuan Feng and Alican Süner, violin, Xingyuan Xu, viola, Simon Eberle, cello, Cristiana Custódio and Christopher Williams, French horn
(Photo: Andrea Kremper)
Philipp Dose, double bass, Harry Bennetts, violin, Kei Tojo, viola, Simon Eberle, cello, Cristiana Custódio, French horn, Javier Bosca Bas, bassoon, and Liana Leßmann, clarinet

02 Apr 2018

Chamber music with scholars of our Karajan-Akademie at the Malersaal of the Dorint hotel

(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Fergus McWilliam and moderator Christian Thees

01 Apr 2018

Good bye-Lounge with Fergus McWilliam

This is the last Easter Festival for Fergus McWilliam as Berliner Philharmoniker. Unbelievable, but true: he has reached the mandatory retirement age!

Moderator and principal double bass: Matthew McDonald
(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
Noah Bendix-Balgley, violin, Máté Szűcs, viola, Yannick Rafalimanana, piano, Bruno Delepelaire, cello, and Matthew McDonald, double bass

01 Apr 2018

Trout Quintet

A master concert at the Runder Saal of the Casino

Daishin Kashimoto, violin, Markus Groh, piano, Knut Weber, cello, and Andreas Ottensamer, clarinet
(Photo: Photos Andrea Kremper)
Lilja Steiniger, flute, Bunkichi Arakawa, oboe, Miriam Kofler, bassoon, Cristiana Custidio, French horn, and Daniel Kurz, clarinet
(Photo: Andrea Kremper)

31 Mar 2018

Master concerts in Bühl and the Spitalkirche

Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps was performed at the Bürgerhaus Bühl. Scholars of the Karajan Academy played at the Spitalkirche.

Berliner Barocksolisten and Daishin Kashimoto
(Photo: Andrea Kremper)
Wind octet
Sir Simon and the BJO
Presentation of the honorary conductorship

31 Mar 2018

Musikfest with a special moment for Sir Simon

At the end of this year's Musikfest Sir Simon Rattle became honorary conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Germany (BJO)

Team meeting with the bosses. Sir Simon and General Manager Andrea Zietzschmann were there despite the weather!
(Photo: Photos Stefan Stahnke)
Well-shielded: Principal French horn David Cooper and Bassoon-academist Javier Biosca Bas
Corner... (Philipp Bohnen)
GOOOOOOAL!!! 1-0 by Andreas Ottensamer
Andreas Ottensamer and Paolo Mendes defend the ball
Sweeper and captain Nikolaus Römisch in action
Sir Simon and Axel Gerhardt, long time leader of the 2nd violins in our orchestra and now very supportive coach for the BJO strings, watch their protégés.
Team photo: Wet but happy!

30 Mar 2018

Football

Another tradition: The football match between our orchestra and our godchildren of the BJO. Also traditiional: the bad weather (Fritz-Walter-weather as we say in Football Germany...). This year our team won with 3-1 watched by a very well staffed VIP tribune...

Sir Simon
(Photo: Manolopress Michael Bode)
(Photo: Manolopress Michael Bode)
(Photo: Manolopress Michael Bode)
Some of our colleagues had time to play together with the BJO
(Photo: Manolopress Michael Bode)
Sir Simon and the future
(Photo: Annette Börger)

30 Mar 2018

Rehearsal with the BJO (National Youth Orchestra of Germany) and Sir Simon

... another good tradition: Our collaboration with the BJO at the Easter Festival.

Manfred Preis and Holm Birkholz on sound expedition at the Museum Frieder Burda
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Egor Egorkin, flute, Dominik Wollenweber, oboe, Martin Heinze, double bass, Jan Schlichte, percussion, Elisabeth Rapp, soprano, and Stefan Schulz, trombone, play Ryonanji by John Cage at the Museum Frieder Burda
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Late Night at the Casino with Bolero Berlin
(Photo: Michael Gregonowits)
Our Brahms Ensemble Berlin at the beautiful Florentinersaal of Casino Baden-Baden
(Photo: Michael Gregonowits)
Europe in the 30ties with Cornelia Gartemann, violin, Alexander Bader, clarinett, and Özgür Aydin, piano, at the Runden Saal of Kurhaus Baden-Baden
(Photo: Michael Gregonowits)
Concerto Melante performed with Monika Mausch, soprano, Alexander Seidel, alto, Jan Kobow, tenor, and Wolf-Matthias Friedrich, bass, at the St. Bernhard church music by Georg Philipp Telemann.
(Photo: Manolopress Michael Bode)

30 Mar 2018

Master concerts

A good tradition during the Easter Festival: chamber music ensembles playing master concerts all over Baden-Baden

Krystian Zimerman and Sir Simon Rattle
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
(Photo: Michael Gregonowits)
(Photo: Michael Gregonowits)

29 Mar 2018

Rehearsal and concert with Krystian Zimerman

(Photo: Photos Stefan Stahnke)
Tree art: White Cube by Fabian Knecht

29 Mar 2018

The sun is back!

(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
Alpine Symphony

29 Mar 2018

Concert with Gerald Finley and Daniel Harding

(Photo: Photos Stefan Stahnke)

28 Mar 2018

Baden-Baden inhabitants

(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
Concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley becomes "Rosenkavalier"

28 Mar 2018

Concert with Elina Garanca

28 Mar 2018

Rehearsal for the TV broadcast

Seen from above by Monika Rittershaus

Dieter Dorn and his Team
(Photo: Monika Rittershaus)
Sir Simon and the soloists
Applause for the orchestra

27 Mar 2018

Applause after Parsifal

Ruxandra Donose, Kundry
(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
Franz Josef Selig, Gurnemanz, and Stephen Gould, Parsifal
Stephen Gould, Parsifal, and Ruxandra Donose, Kundry
Ruxandra Donose, Kundry
Evgeny Nikitin, Klingsor
Ruxandra Donose, Kundry, and Evgeny Nikitin, Klingsor

27 Mar 2018

Parsifal

Baden-Baden Festspielhaus
(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
Andreas Ottensamer, principal clarinet
Martin von der Nahmer, viola
Christoph Streuli, 2nd violin
Martin Menking, Cello
Prior to the premiere
Sir Simon sneaks up to his podium to start from silence
Upbeat to five hours of Parsifal

27 Mar 2018

View into the pit

Luis Felipe Coelho, 1st violin
(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
Martin Kretzer and Andre Schoch, trumpet

27 Mar 2018

Backstage with the orchestra

Downstairs

(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)

27 Mar 2018

Before the first night of Parsifal

Wind quintet of the BJO
(Photo: Photos Stefan Stahnke)
Members of the Philharmonia Choir Vienna

27 Mar 2018

Street music

Sunday shopping with music: Members of the German National Youth Orchestra and the Philharmonia Choir Vienna performed in Baden-Baden's pedestrian zone in the sunshine.

Marcel Brunner, Knappe, and Alina Wunderlin, Parceval
Marcel Brunner, Knappe, and Johannes Mooser, Ritter Ither
Flurina Stucki, Herzeloyde
Elisabeth Birgmeier, Kundry, Marcel Brunner, Klingsor, and Alina Wunderlin, Parceval
Alina Wunderlin, Parceval
Elisabeth Birgmeier, Kundry
Johannes Mooser, Gurnemanz, and Elisabeth Birgmeier, Kundry
Gurnemanz, Parceval and Kundry

26 Mar 2018

Ritter Parceval at the theatre

Monika Rittershaus has seen this year's Children's Opera

Rüdiger Liebermann, 1st violin and Stroh violin
(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
Peter Fleckenstein, member of the Karajan Academy, playing the timpani
Andre Schoch, trumpet, and Andrej Žust, French horn
Raimar Orlovsky tuning his Stroh violin
Conductor Stanley Dodds

26 Mar 2018

In the orchestra pit at the children's opera

(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)

26 Mar 2018

Before the Children's Opera: Backstage at the theatre

Oliver Jacobs, Podestà, and Victoria Kunze, Sandrina.
(Photo: Alle Fotos Monika Rittershaus)
Rubén Olivares Jofré, Belfiore, Nadine Kettler, Serpetta, and Julie Erhart Arminda.
Rubén Olivares Jofré, Julie Erhart, Victoria Kunze and Martin Peters, Nardo.

25 Mar 2018

View on the stage of our chamber opera

... and on stage.

Simon Rössler conducts our Karajan-Akademie
Christopher Williams and Cristiana Custódio, French Horn, with Liana Leßmann, clarinet
Andreas Ehelebe, double bass
Vincent Vogel, percussion
The Karajan-Akademie in the pit of the Theater Baden-Baden

25 Mar 2018

La Finta Giardiniera

Before the first night of our chamber opera La finta Giardiniera, Monika Rittershaus gives a sneak preview from the pit...

Laurentiu Dinca, first violin, observes percussionist Simon Rössler studying his score.
(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
1st Principal violist Máté Szűcs talking to his viola colleague Walter Küssner.
Walter Seyfarth, clarinet
Ludwig Quandt, 1st principal cellist
French horns Paolo Mendes and Fergus McWilliam
Sir Simon

25 Mar 2018

Rehearsal impressions

Martin von der Nahmer, viola, and Christoph von der Nahmer, violin, explain the differences of their instruments.
(Photo: Photos: Monika Rittershaus)
...there are also acustical differences
...together with Jelka Weber, flute, they form a trio.
At the end of the concert the students were invited to ask questions.
Jelka Weber being happy about so many questions.

25 Mar 2018

Outreach concert

A good tradition in Baden-Baden: Outreach concerts to social facilities, schools and refugee homes. This one took place at the Theodor-Heuss-School. Flutist Jelka Weber, Christoph von der Nahmer, violin, and his brother Martin, viola, played for a group of students at the school's gym.

Sir Simon talking to first concertmasters Daniel Stabrawa and Noah Bendix-Balgley and first principal cellist Ludwig Quandt
Andre Schoch and Guillaume Jehl, trumpet

24 Mar 2018

Backstage at the Festspielhaus

Sir Simon
Bruno Delepelaire, First principal cellist
Stanley Dodds, 2nd violin
Stefan de Leval Jezierski, French Horn
Prinicpal flute Emmanuel Pahud

24 Mar 2018

First concert rehearsals

Besides the opera we also have a lot of concerts going on during the Easter Festival. Rehearsals have started, Monika Rittershaus takes photos.

Simon Rössler
Simon Rössler und Raphael Haeger

24 Mar 2018

The bells

Always the same question with Parsifal: How to deal with the bells? Here is Sir Simon's solution, photographed by Monika Rittershaus

(Photo: Photos Monika Rittershaus)
Orchestra chairman Knut Weber
Double bass player Gunars Upatnieks striding ahead fearlessly.
Thomas Timm searching for the golden ring... Oops, sorry, wrong opera...
What will become of this?

22 Mar 2018

Rail steel instead of grail deal

Horst Weitzmann, long time patron of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, invited our orchestra on a free day to a visit of his steel mill. A big thank you! We were very impressed!

Madeleine Carruzzo, 1st violin
Trombone player Thomas Leyendecker waiting for his cue
...here we go!

22 Mar 2018

From above

Monika Rittershaus always finds new perspectives

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