“Love Stories” with Graz Orchestra Entertainment

On stage, alongside conductor Mei-Ann Chen, are old acquaintances such as Michael Hofstetter and newcomers such as Tobias Wogerer and Vanessa Benelli Musil.

Compactness as standard

Director Matthijs Huber was very satisfied with the last season at the show's preview on Wednesday. Whole Houses made the 'dent caused by Covid more or less forgotten'. Much of the pandemic has been kept in place, including concerts lasting about an hour and variable start times for the evening.

“Integrated concerts have become our standard,” Hopper said. What sets the orchestra apart is the fact that the musicians are assigned to the production and choose themselves whether they want to play the program or not.

An important promotion for young talents

Hopper pointed to the promotion of young talents as another important point, which is reflected not only in the commitment of young talents, but also in the Riddick Scholarship. This gives young people the opportunity to participate in entertainment parties for a regular wage and gain experience. A third of them are funded by concert director Wolfgang Reddick, and the rest comes from a sponsorship of €500 each.

Beethoven to Offenbach

The concert series begins with an evening of “Cosi fan tutte” with music by Mozart, Haydn and Schubert. Hyacintha Andre, a young woman from Graz, will perform Haydn's Cello Concerto, conducted by Tobias Wogerer. There will be an encounter with pianist Bernd Glemser in “Beethoven con forza,” in which the composer’s Fifth Piano Concerto takes center stage. As a special feature, a new interpretation of Beethoven's “Coriolanus” Overture will be presented by Korean composer Unsuk Chen, and the concert will be conducted by Mi-Ann Chen.

The conductor also holds the baton in “Butterfly Lovers.” This evening, not only Offenbach's overture to “Orpheus in the Underworld” will be heard, but also the Chinese composition “The Butterfly Lovers.” The Violin Concerto tells the story of a love between two people who can only come together as butterflies. Violin soloist Melissa White will add colorful touches to a dress designed for the occasion.

Romeo and Juliet as a theme

The classic lovers par excellence are the focus of “Romeo and Juliet.” Under the direction of the conductor, not only Sergei Prokofiev's eponymous suite will be played, but also “West Side Story,” a modern version by Leonard Bernstein. The great couple in music history was Clara Wick and Robert Schumann, who each played piano concertos with Claire Huangsi, also conducting the orchestra. Longtime conductor Michael Hofstetter returns to his former workplace to participate in the Mozart program.

There are two Christmas concerts: “Hansel and Gretel” brings a suite from the opera of the same name with Italian conductor Vanessa Pinelli Musil, while Alfredo Bernardini contributes tried-and-tested Baroque sounds with his flutes. The orchestra will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss (according to the Strauss association with “ss”, note) next March with a program that will include not only music but also texts read by Ursula Strauss.