In the Mahler anniversary year 2011 Pierre Boulez, the ‘grandseigneur of subtle minimalism and exquisitely beguiling sounds’ (Der Standard), was given the honor of conducting this year’s traditional opening concert of the Wiener Philharmoniker at the Salzburg Festival.

As a tribute to the composer, the concert centers around Mahler’s ‘Das klagende Lied’ and begins with two works by his pupil and admirer Alban Berg. The first, the ‘Lulu Suite’ of 1934, is compiled from Berg’s unfinished opera of the same name and contains music for the tragic temptress. The soprano part of the ‘Lulu Suite’ is sung by ‘dazzling’ (Der Standard) and ‘sensational’ (Die Presse) young British-Austrian soprano Anna Prohaska, while Dorothea Röschmann delivers a ‘masterful interpretation’ (Die Presse) of Berg’s concert aria ‘Der Wein’.

ALBAN BERG
Lulu Suite - Symphonic Pieces from the Opera Lulu for Coloratura Soprano and Orchestra

ALBAN BERG
Der Wein - Concert Aria for Soprano and Orchestra

GUSTAV MAHLER
Das klagende Lied - for Solo Voices, Mixed Choir and Orchestra (1898/99 Version)

Anna Prohaska, soprano
Dorothea Röschmann, soprano
Anna Larson, alto
Johan Botha, tenor
Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor
Chorus Master: Jörn H. Andresen
Wiener Philharmoniker
Pierre Boulez, conductor