With almost a hundred years in operation, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra makes its debut this year at the International Music Festival of Canary Islands. will do it in Gran Canaria Y Tenerifeunder the direction of the German Ingo Metzmacher, and with the most important baritone in the United States, Thomas Hampson, as a soloist.
This will be one of the great symphonic concerts of this edition, in which it will be possible to listen to a great work of which Hampson is undoubtedly its main supporter: Mahler’s Rückert Lieder. The repertoire is completed with the Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture, and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9.
The Italian formation is considered one of the best orchestras both by the directors and by the public all over the world. It has been conducted throughout its history by first-rate batons, including Riccardo Muti, Fabio Luisi or Zubin Mehtawho currently continues as honorary director.
The concerts will be held today at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, and tomorrow, Friday, at the Tenerife Auditorium, both at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available at www.festivaldecanarias.com and on the usual sales platforms for both stages. It is recalled that music students can access the concerts with a special rate of three euros. In both appointments there will be an introductory talk by Ricardo Ducatenzeiler that will begin in an adjoining room one hour before the start of each concert.
The program includes the Overture to Fidelio op. 72, by Lv Beethoven, who spent more time writing it than Rossini and Donizetti spent on an entire opera. Beethoven wrote a total of four overtures for his only opera, subject to numerous revisions, one of them –Leonora III- performed by the Bamberg Orchestra in this same edition of the festival. The final version was first performed in May 1826 at the Kärtnertor Theater in Vienna.
The North American baritone Thomas Hampson -who already appeared as the protagonist of the 37th edition- is praised for the beauty of his voice, his elegant presence and scenic stages, as well as great acting skills. Specifically, Hampson is especially recognized for his interpretations of the music of Gustav Mahler, the composer of whom he will interpret his Rückert Lieder, four songs with romantic melodic lines.
And finally, Schubert’s Ninth, known as La Grande, for its majesty. Its extension, at least, leaves no doubt that we are before a major work. Together with Beethoven’s Ninth and Berlioz’s Fantastic Symphony, it constitutes one of the pinnacles of the third decade of the 19th century.
Trajectory
Founded in 1928 by Vittorio Gui as Stabile Orchestrale Fiorentina, this ensemble has been committed since its inception to the concert repertoire and the lyrical seasons of the Teatro Comunale in Florence and, to this day, is one of the most appreciated formations by both conductors and audiences. audiences around the world. It was in 1933 when the Festival was born and since then it has taken the name of Orquesta del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
