The Berliner Philharmoniker at the Waldbühne (Photo: Stephan Rabold)
Glorious heroes and eerie forests: The Berliner Philharmoniker and conductor Andris Nelsons close the season at the Waldbühne on 24 June 2023 with Romantic opera. They will be joined by star tenor Klaus Florian Vogt, who is at home on the world’s great stages – from the Bayreuth Festival to the New York Met. This guest appearance, which includes his signature role as Wagner’s Lohengrin, marks his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker.
There is no need for a hydraulic stage or a sophisticated set: when arias like “Durch die Wälder, durch die Auen” (Der Freischütz) or “In fernem Land, unnahbar euren Schritten” (Lohengrin) are sung, as the Waldbühne Berlin with its dense rows of trees provides a perfect backdrop. Look forward to an atmospheric evening with magical, eerie and funny stories.
We start with the overture and an aria from Carl Maria von Weber’s opera Der Freischütz, which premiered in Berlin in 1821 and is based on a story from August Apel’s horror anthology, the Gespensterbuch.
In order to be able to marry his adored Agathe, Max has to prove his marksmanship in a shooting trial. But since he has had little luck shooting lately, he enters into a diabolical pact with the black hunter Samiel.
This is followed by arias from Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin: “Mein lieber Schwan” (My dear swan) is widely used in Germany as a poetic expression of surprise.
But when Lohengrin sings farewell to his beloved Elsa in the eponymous aria, he is probably not the only one who will be “infinitely sad” (Wagner’s stage direction). So have a handkerchief ready!
Tenor Klaus Florian Vogt (Photo: Harald Hoffmann)
The third part of the programme will then cheer you up with works by the magician of sound, Richard Strauss, including Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks and a selection of orchestral lieder. The finale is the Suite op. 59 from Der Rosenkavalier – put simply, a best-of from Strauss’ most famous opera.
Tickets will be available online from 29 September 2022, 11:00.
Final concert of the season in the Waldbühne
Saturday,
24 Jun 2023, 20:15
Waldbühne Berlin
Sat 24 Jun 2023, 20:15
Waldbühne Berlin
End-of-season concert
Berliner Philharmoniker
Andris Nelsons conductor
Klaus Florian Vogt tenor
Works by Carl Maria von Weber, Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss
