Major European festivals kick off

The summer of the great European opera and symphonic-chamber festivals is in full swing. Already the opera festival in Glyndebourne, England, had opened the way in mid-May (as we wrote about it). Now it is the turn of Salzburg, with its rich programme, including numerous operas, with some rediscoveries; and then the great orchestras and soloists. More concentrated in time and veering towards chamber music is the Swiss festival in Verbier, in the mountains of Canton Valais. Two intense months are dedicated to symphonic music at the London Proms festival, with daily concerts.

From 19 July to 31 August, the famous festival presents operas, prose, symphonic and chamber concerts. Among the operas are Mozart's "La Clemenza di Tito", with Cecilia Bartoli, directed by Carsen and the Musiciens du Prince conducted by Capuano; Weinberg's "L'Idiota" (from Dostoevsky), for the first time at the Festival, directed by Warlikowski, with Gražinytė-Tyla conducting; and again from the great Russian author, Prokofiev's "Il Giocatore", also for the first time at the Festival, with Asmik Grigorian, conducted by Zangiev. Various red threads run through the programme. Among the symphonic concerts are those with the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Muti, Nelson, Blomstedt; the debut at the Mäkelä Festival, with the Oslo Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic with Petrenko, the Bavarian Radio Orchestra with Rattle. And then solo recitals and singing evenings dedicated to the Lieder.

www.salzburgerfestspiele.at

From 18 July to 4 August the 31st edition of the Festival, dedicated mainly to chamber music, but with many symphonic concerts with the Festival Orchestra, which opens on the 19th conducted by Rattle, followed by Mäkelä and Pappano. Multi-day appointments, with numerous internationally renowned performers, from Yuja Wang to Kissin, from Kavakos to Maisky.

From 19 July to 14 September the Proms Festival, organised by the BBC, daily symphony concerts in the very spacious Royal Albert Hall. This name, Proms, is derived from Promenade Concerts, because in a couple of sections one can move around freely, there are no seats. Well-chosen programmes and prices starting at £8 (for standing room only - promming tickets, in fact - with which you can hear an orchestra such as the Berlin Philharmonic, for example). Among the first concerts on the 20th the BBC Concert Orchestra in an evening dedicated to disco music, while on the 22nd the BBc Orchestra of Wales combines Schoenberg's 'Pelleas und Melisande' with Zemlinsky's 'Little Mermaid'.