(c) stock.adobe.com MusicAeterna: The Ring without Words
Seville, Teatro de la Maestranza — Sala Principal
About the Event
Without a written tradition, we observe that over the last century and a bit, there has been a trend to separate Wagner’s music from its text. The rationale for this is fascinating: since Wagner is primarily a symphonic composer, his compositions should stand alone without the words.
Hermann Zumpe, an orchestra conductor who assisted Wagner in staging his Ring, was the pioneer in removing vocals, creating purely orchestral versions. In 1912, Leopold Stokowski introduced his Wagner Without Words to The Philadelphia Orchestra. Yet, it is Lorin Maazel's instrumental synthesis that has gained the most acclaim, inspiring numerous successors.
The Ring of the Nibelung condensed into an hour without words. Even the staunchest Wagnerian purists can't complain if the piece is executed by one of today’s most virtuosic orchestras, MusicAeterna, under the baton of Teodor Currentzis. His involvement guarantees precision, a richness of sound, brilliance, and emotive expression—all hallmarks of the maestro. Moreover, as witnessed by the Teatro de la Maestranza audience during the unforgettable 23‐24 season’s Mozart Requiem, the performance teems with depth, passion, and drama. Everything quintessentially Wagner. Minus the words.
Program
- Richard Wagner – The Ring without Words, op.45 (Der Ring ohne Worte)
Artists
| Conductor: | Teodor Currentzis The Greek‐born Russian conductor began his musical studies in Greece before moving to Russia to study conducting with the legendary Ilya Musin. Currentzis' early experience was gained primarily in Russia, and he is most closely associated with the Baroque and Classical repertoire, having established two ensembles specialising in these eras — the MusicaAeterna orchestra and choir — during his early career in Novosibirsk. Since 2011, Currentzis has been closely associated with the SWR Symphonieorchester in Stuttgart, becoming its chief conductor in 2018‐19. Currentzis also has a busy international career conducting opera performances and orchestral concerts in many of the world's great theatres and halls. His discography is extensive and many recordings have attracted international awards, and he has recently founded his own label, Theta, as well as the internationally‐acclaimed Utopia orchestra. |
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| Ensemble: | MusicAeterna |
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Perhaps the most important composer of all time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer of the late 18th century. Born in 1756 in Salzburg, he showed prodigious musical talent from childhood. Beginning at five years of age, he composed more than 600 works, including concertos, symphonies, religious works and operas before his premature death at the age of 35. Hi influence over successive generations cannot be overestated - Ludwig van Beethoven wrote of Mozart "posterity will not see such a talent again in 100 years”. Despite the immense success of his compositions, and the acclaim he received across Europe, Mozart achieved little financial security and rwas buried in an unmarked grave in Vienna's St Marx Cemetery.
Address
Teatro de la Maestranza, Paseo de Cristóbal Colón, 22, Seville, Spain — Google Maps
