One of the great contradictions today is that, on the one hand, people complain that the audience in opera and concert halls is getting older and older and that there is a lack of young listeners, and on the other hand, highly talented young people are flocking to music colleges around the world to learn piano, violin, cello and other instruments to learn to play to mastery, not to forget singers. Young masters often appear on the podium in front of an audience that, viewed from the stage, spreads out like a gray carpet, but this does not hinder enthusiasm and joy in the music. But if starting times, formats and ticket prices are varied and different venues are chosen, things look completely different. Music enthusiasts from all age groups often come together; at late dates, young people are often in the majority.
The “Stars & Rising Stars” series, which is taking place for the eighth time this year – between May 3rd and 15th with nine events, curated as always by Kari Wolfsjäger – offers a nice example. On the one hand, big names such as the legendary Alfred Brendel attract their audience right at the opening (May 3rd) or the famous tenor Alfred Behle (May 5th) or general music director Vladimir Jurowski with the Latvian diva Marina Rebeka (May 15th). On the other hand, the world stars also act as mentors for super talents. They have won numerous awards in competitions and, whether as vocal soloists or instrumentalists, already have the best hopes.
Star violinist Daniel Hope, here at the WDR birthday gala in Bochum in March, also had a great mentor: Yehudi Menuhin, with whom he took lessons as a child.
(Photo: IMAGO/Funke Photo Services)
In addition to this attractive mixture of recognized fame and fresh laurels, there are unusual venues for the so-called classical music. The Künstlerhaus and the Max-Joseph-Saal in the Residenz are known as concert rooms, but the auditorium of the Wilhelmsgymnasium or the outdoor heating hall at the Donnersbergerbrücke offer other attractions. Especially the Odeon in today’s Interior Ministry, which is otherwise primarily used to honor police officers and other personalities.
As a reminder: The Odeon was once the most important concert hall in Munich, acoustically admired throughout Europe, until the bombing in 1944. So when GMD Vladimir Jurowski appears as an accompanying pianist with the Latvian singer Marina Rebeka and the young Natalie Lewis, mezzo-soprano, and the young tenor Aleksey Kursanov presents, he also points out that the state orchestra’s academy concerts took place in the legendary Odeon until it was destroyed.
Comes to the Wilhelmsgymnasium on May 8th with Udo Wachtveitl: the violinist Guido San’Anna, born in 2005, and 2022 winner of the Vienna Fritz Kreisler Competition.
(Photo: Cauê Diniz)
A few highlights are highlighted: Crime scene detective Leitmayr alias Udo Wachtveitl reads crime stories in the Wilhelmsgymnasium (May 8th), with the pianist Martina Consonni, born in 1997, and the violinist Guido San’Anna, born in 2005, winner of the Vienna “Fritz Kreisler” in 2022 “-Competition. Joining the Italian master pianist Andrea Lucchesini are the Spanish violinist Javier Comesana, born in 1999, the cellist Jaemin Han from South Korea, born in 2006, and the 26-year-old Piotr Pawlak from Poland on the piano. There is a bold mix of programs with Daniel Behle, when the Salzburger Hofmusik under the direction of Wolfgang Brunner offers Mozart arias and songs, alongside Behle the Polish bass-baritone Dawid Biwo; plus the phenomenal virtuoso Ziyu He, born in 1999, as a violinist and violist.
A total of 21 young stars from Europe, Asia and America will be doing the honors alongside the famous ones, including cello master Daniel Müller-Schott, bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni and violinist Daniel Hope. The range of music pieces and arias ranges from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert to Ravel, Scriabin and Gershwin. All concerts, wherever, start at 7 p.m. 10 euros for young listeners (up to 28 years), otherwise 35 euros.
Stars & Rising Stars, first concert on May 3rd, 7 p.m., with Alfred Brendel, Künstlerhaus am Lenbachplatz, information at www.starsandrisingstars.de