Fri, 10 February 2012
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Forget Wagner, says Expatica’s classical music columnist Sumi Somaskanda, Munich’s Classic on Odeonsplatz concerts are the shows to catch this summer.You’re probably expecting a lengthy, detailed Bayreuth Festival feature singing the praises of Wagner. It is, after all, the biggest opera bash of the year and almost a pilgrimage or rite of passage for Wagner junkies. But let’s be honest, unless your name was on the ticket waiting list 5 years ago or you’re somehow related to the famous composer, you’re not getting anywhere near the Festspielhaus doors. And don’t try eBay either, because festival officials comb the web for re-sales! But don’t fret too much over missing Tristan and Isolde or the Ring of the Nibelung series at Bayreuth. If you put your name on the ticket list now, you might have a chance to hobnob with the Chancellor and all the other famous festivalgoers in merely a couple of years.
This July, take a trip out to Munich for an unforgettable classical experience. It’s not nearly as glamorous as Bayreuth but the Classic on Odeonsplatz concerts are not to be missed. For two nights, on the 11th and 12th of July, Odeonsplatz in the heart of old Munich transforms from a stately plaza teeming with tourists into an ethereal concert venue, with twinkling lights under a canopy of deep blue summer skies. Odeonsplatz is flanked on two sides by magnificent Munich structures—the Munich Residence and the Theatine Church. The concert stage, erected in the Hall of Heroes, looks out over the grandiose plaza with a view that stretches all the way down Ludwig Street to the dramatic Schwabing Gate. If you’ve never been to Munich, I can’t think of a better introduction to the city.
The second and final concert of the series on Sunday the 12th is also no let down. The world-famous piano duo, sisters Katia und Marielle Labèque, present a piece from fellow countryman Francis Poulenc. The sisters will play the French composer’s Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra in D minor, a standard in the double-piano repertoire that reflects Poulenc’s many musical influences, ranging from Mozart to Chevalier. Accompanying the sister-duo is the Munich Philharmonic—led by none other than Marielle Labeque’s husband, Semyon Bychkov. The Russian-American conductor will lead the ensemble in Ravel’s beautiful La Valse, a piece that contemplates despair and hope in the aftermath of World War I. Also on the concert bill is Tchaikovsky’s memorable Capriccio Italien, inspired by the composer’s own trip to Rome. The Capriccio is perfect for an open-air concert setting, with its powerful trumpet solos and striking themes. Last but not least, Bizet’s beloved L'Arlésienne Suite brings the lilting tunes of the French countryside to Munich, an experience that never gets old.
Photo credit: Allie_Caulfield
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