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VIENNA STATE OPERA 50TH ANNIVERSARY REOPENING GALA premiered on September 18, 2006 on PBS (check local listings).
Prior to its devastating bombing during the final days of World War II, the Vienna State Opera was the legendary home to a multitude of classical music giants -- composers and performers alike -- for nearly a century. The house opened again on November 5, 1955, and has since played host to some of the world's most esteemed musicians. In November 2005, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its reopening, an international collection of leading opera stars gathered to perform a concert program of arias selected from the 1955 gala reopening season. Featuring excerpts from Mozart's "Don Giovanni," Verdi's "Aida," Wagner's "Die Meistersinger," Beethoven's "Fidelio," and more, the 2005 reopening celebration is led by some of the world's premier conductors, including the opera's principal conductor, Seiji Ozawa, and Zubin Mehta. Plácido Domingo joins a cast of foremost opera talents, including Thomas Hampson, Bryn Terfel, and Angelika Kirchschlager.
Since its 1869 opening, the Vienna State Opera has presented many of the world's finest singers and been led by acclaimed conductors such as Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, and Herbert von Karajan. Trace its storied history in the essay by writer Tim Smith. Hometown favorite Angelika Kirchschlager joins an international roster of stars to help commemorate the opera house's unique milestone. Get her perspective on singing at the venerated house and performing Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier" in Dialogue. Watch video excerpts and find all the musical selections from the concert in the song list. Brush up on the operatic voice in the Multimedia Presentation: Opera Basics.
Special funding for the program was provided by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, the City of Vienna, and the Irene Diamond Fund.
Top banner photos: Soprano Genia Kúhmeier, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, and conductor Seiji Ozawa.
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Vienna State Opera interior |
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Men's choir of the Vienna State Opera Chorus. |
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The DVD is available from Amazon.com. |
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