The Munich Philharmonic opens the Sagra Malatestiana in Rimini
The 30th Festival on the Island of Elba, featuring Argerich, Brunello and Kremer; the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra in Pordenone
Major symphony orchestras in Rimini and Pordenone and leading performers on the Island of Elba, for the festival now in its 30th edition;
Rimini
On 30 August, the 77th Sagra Malatestiana gets underway at the Teatro Galli, featuring one of Europe’s leading orchestras, the Münchner Philharmoniker, conducted by Lahav Shani. They will perform Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (with Shani himself as soloist) and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4. The Festival continues until 9 December, featuring both symphonic and chamber music.
Elba Island
From 28 August to 13 September, the 30th edition of “Elba Isola Musicale d’Europa” will take place, from Portoferraio – the main venue – to Capoliveri, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, Campo nell’Elba and Rio. Among the numerous concerts, three great performers well known to the festival are returning this year. Pianist Martha Argerich will bring the festival to a close on 13 September at the Teatro dei Vigilanti in Portoferraio; alongside her will be violinist Gidon Kremer and cellist Mario Brunello. Argerich will perform two masterpieces for four-hand piano, alongside her Latvian colleague Georgijs Osokins: Ravel’s “Ma mère l’Oye” and Schubert’s Fantasia D.940. She will also perform Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano – with cellist Jing Zhao; and Haydn’s Trio No. 39, with Zhao and violinist Michael Guttman. Gidon Kremer will be at the Fortezza Pisana in Marciana on Monday 7 September to present a tribute to Astor Piazzolla alongside the Festival Soloists; and two days later at the Teatro di Portoferraio to perform Weinberg’s Trio Op. 48 and Mozart’s Divertimento for Violin, Viola and Cello K. 563, with Katrīna Pelnēna on viola and Giedrė Dirvanauskaitė on cello. Mario Brunello will have Friday 11 September all to himself: at 11.00, following a walk to the concert venue, he will play pieces for solo cello by Bach, Casarrubios, Valentin Silvestrov and John Cage near the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Monserrato; whilst at 6.30 pm, in the theatre in Portoferraio, accompanied by pianist Georgijs Osokins, he will perform Mahler’s *Kindertotenlieder* and Brahms’s *Vier Ernste Gesange*, Op. 121.
Pordenone
Among the finest youth orchestras, the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchester, founded by Abbado, has been in residence this month at the Teatro Verdi, preparing for the European tour which a leading conductor such as Philippe Jordan has also taken to the Salzburg Festival. The tour concludes at the Verdi Theatre on 31 August and 1 September; the first concert will feature works by Bartók and Bruckner; the second will feature a masterpiece – one that is not easy to perform – such as Mahler’s Symphony No. 7.
