Tuesday 18 February 2020 at 8.30pm
Gloria Campanerpiano
Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra
Gianluca Marcianòconductor
The 27th edition of the Festival takes off with Beethoven’s best known Fifth Symphony. Who doesn’t know its ominous first four notes Da‑Da‑Da‑Dum? Also called the Fate Symphony, it was composed when Beethoven was in his mid-thirties and troubled by increasing deafness.
The Piano Concerto No. 5 is Beethoven’s most accomplished concerto and popularly known as The Emperor concerto. It will be played by the celebrated Italian pianist Gloria Campaner, one of the most eclectic and versatile musicians of her generation, invited for the 3rd time to the Festival.
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Friday 21 February 2020 at 8.30pm
SAINT-JOSEPH JESUIT CHURCH, MONOT
Filippo Gorinipiano
Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra
Michel Khairallahconductor
Beethoven’s first symphony was composed when he was only 25, just before he started to lose his hearing. It is clearly indebted to his predecessors Haydn and Mozart, but is nonetheless a unique masterpiece.
The Piano Concerto No. 1, first performed with Beethoven at the piano, will be interpreted by the rising star Italian pianist Filippo Gorini who won the First Prize and Audience Prize at the Telekom‑Beethoven Competition in Bonn in 2015.
In 2018, he was the first laureate of the prestigious award ‘Una vita per la Musica-Giovani’ of ‘La Fenice’ theater.
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Sunday 23 February 2020 at 8.30pm
Vanessa Benelli Mosellpiano
Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra
Gianluca Marcianòconductor
The third Symphony, also known as Eroica, is one of Beethoven’s most celebrated and technically challenging works. It is considered as a turning point in musical history.
Vanessa Benelli Mosell is a rising star on the international music scene. She is continuously praised for her dazzling virtuosity, her technical brilliance and the sensitivity of her musical insight. For her second appearance at the Festival she will electrify the stage with her interpretation of Piano Concerto No. 3.
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Wednesday 26 February 2020 at 8.30pm
Abdel Rahman El Bachapiano
Jean-François Balmeractor
Alexandre Najjarauthor
In the twilight of his life, Ludwig van Beethoven confides: he evokes his bad relationship with his father, his misanthropy, the women of his life, his political illusions and the tragedy of his nephew Karl. His passion for music allowed him to overcome his infirmity and take revenge on fate.
Alexandre Najjar makes Beethoven speak to give us edifying confessions which reveal the personality of the great composer and unknown aspects of his existence.
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Friday 28 February 2020 at 8.30pm
Renaud Capuçonviolin
Kit Armstrongpiano
French violinist Renaud Capuçon is known and loved for his poise, depth of tone and virtuosity. He works with the world’s most prestigious orchestras,
artists, venues and festivals.
For his third appearance at the Al Bustan Festival, he will play the Complete Violin Sonatas with the piano prodigy Kit Armstrong who plays a hundred concerts a year in venues around the world and is described as a ‘musical phenomenon’.
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Saturday 29 February 2020 at 8.30pm
Renaud Capuçonviolin
Kit Armstrongpiano
French violinist Renaud Capuçon is known and loved for his poise, depth of tone and virtuosity. He works with the world’s most prestigious orchestras,
artists, venues and festivals.
For his third appearance at the Al Bustan Festival, he will play the Complete Violin Sonatas with the piano prodigy Kit Armstrong who plays a hundred concerts a year in venues around the world and is described as a ‘musical phenomenon’.
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Monday 2 March 2020 at 8.30pm
Gautier Capuçoncello
Jérôme Ducrospiano
Gautier Capuçon is a true 21st century ambassador of the cello. Performing internationally with many of the world’s foremost conductors and instrumentalists, he is also founder and leader of the ‘Classe d’Excellence de Violoncelle’ at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. A multiple award winner, he is acclaimed for his expressive musicianship, exuberant
virtuosity and for the deep sonority of his cello.
For his 4th appearance at the Festival he will play the Complete Cello Sonatas with his long time partner and talented pianist Jérôme Ducros, appearing for the third time at Al Bustan.
Gautier Capuçon plays a Matteo Goffriller cello, which he has recently named ‘L’Ambassadeur’.
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Wednesday 4 March 2020 at 8.30pm
Charlie Siemviolin
Camerata Salzburg
Jérémie Rhorerconductor
Camerata Salzburg is one of the leading chamber orchestras in the world. Founded in 1952, the Camerata plays mainly in Salzburg and tours around the world in the most prestigious venues.
Camerata Salzburg will play Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 or The little Symphony, the shortest but most compelling symphony which Beethoven ever composed.
Violinist Charlie Siem is considered as one of today’s foremost young and virtuoso violinists. In addition to his dashing appearance and beautiful charm, Siem is an ambassador of The Prince’s Trust and a Visiting Professor at Leeds College and Nanjing University of the Arts in China. He will play a very special concerto as it is the only violin concerto which Beethoven composed.
This concert will be conducted by Jérémie Rhorer, one of the most exciting and versatile conductors of his generation.
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Friday 6 March 2020 at 8.30pm
Christina Ganschsoprano
Camerata Salzburg
Jérémie Rohrerconductor
The Pastoral Symphony is one of Beethoven’s most popular works. This characteristic and joyful symphony expresses the composer’s affinity for nature and his love for walks in the country, outside Vienna.
Young Austrian soprano Christina Gansch will sing Beethoven’s Egmont op. 84. She is the winner of the 2014 Ferrier Award and graduated with distinction from the Mozarteum, Salzburg and the Royal Academy of Music in London. She has already appeared in the most prestigious international venues and festivals.
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Wednesday 11 March 2020 at 8.30pm
Alexander Romanovskypiano
National Chamber Orchestra Of Armenia
Gianluca Marcianòconductor
In spite of his desperate state due to his increasing deafness, Beethoven’s Second Symphony has a humourous and happy air. It is also full of power
and depth.
Described by Carlo Maria Giulini as ‘extraordinarily gifted’, pianist Alexander Romanovsky is a riveting, distinct and subtle performer with an utterly engaging voice. He will play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia.
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Friday 13 March 2020 at 8.30pm
SAINT-JOSEPH JESUIT CHURCH, MONOT
Sabina Cvilaksoprano
Jelena Končarmezzo soprano
Steve Davislimtenor
Brett Polegatobaritone
Notre Dame University Choir
Father Khalil Rahméchoirmaster
Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra
Gianluca Marcianòconductor
Beethoven’s last symphony No. 9 marks a triumphant and glorious climax. Beethoven was the first composer to include chorus and vocal soloists in his final movement. The Symphony was completed in 1824, when Beethoven was completely deaf and was premiered on Friday 7 May 1824, in the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna. The audience received the work with an ovation. When the piece ended, Beethoven, being deaf, was still conducting.
The soprano soloist had to make him turn around so that he could see the applause.
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Saturday 14 March 2020 at 8.30pm
Sacconi Quartet
In the absence of light, the sound and the music become more powerful… Beethoven’s string quartet No. 14 op. 131 will be played in the dark!
The award-winning Sacconi Quartet is recognised for its unanimous and compelling ensemble, consistently communicating with a fresh and imaginative approach. Performing with style and commitment, the quartet is known throughout the world for its creativity and integrity of interpretation.
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Sunday 15 March 2020 at 8.30pm
SAINT-ELIE CHURCH, KANTARI
Joyce El-Khourysoprano
Roxana Constantinescumezzo soprano
Steve Davislimtenor
Brett Polegatobaritone
Notre Dame University Choir
Father Khalil Rahméchoirmaster
National Chamber Orchestra Of Armenia
Gianluca Marcianòconductor
Beethoven’s last symphony No. 9 marks a triumphant and glorious climax. Beethoven was the first composer to include chorus and vocal soloists in his final movement. The Symphony was completed in 1824, when Beethoven was completely deaf and was premiered on Friday 7 May 1824, in the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna. The audience received the work with an ovation. When the piece ended, Beethoven, being deaf, was still conducting.
The soprano soloist had to make him turn around so that he could see the applause.
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Thursday 19 March 2020 at 8.30pm
Giuseppe Guarrerapiano
National Chamber Orchestra Of Armenia
Gianluca Marcianòconductor
The Fourth Symphony is cheerful, understandable and engaging, and is closer to the composer’s justly beloved First and Second Symphonies than to the Fifth and Sixth.
Giuseppe Guarrera completed his studies in 2018 at the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin. He won a Tabor Foundation Award at the Verbier Festival Academy, received a prestigious Klavier Ruhr Festival Scholarship, and was selected by Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT). In 2017, Giuseppe won the 2nd price at the Montréal International
Competition along with five other awards including the People’s Choice. For his concert at ‘Fondation Vuitton’ in 2018, he was described as having a strong and volcanic musical personality. He will thrill the audience with his interpretation of the 4th Piano Concerto.
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Sunday 22 March 2020 at 8.30pm
Vitaly Pisarenkopiano
Antonine University Choir
Toufic Maatouk o.a.m.assistant conductor
National Chamber Orchestra Of Armenia
Gianluca Marcianòconductor
A great Finale to end this 27th edition of the Festival with two great works of Beethoven: the highly esteemed Symphony No. 7 and the Choral Fantasy which is considered as one of the composer’s most intriguing and powerful works.
It will be played by the immensely gifted Vitaly Pisarenko with his prodigious technique.
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