Vienna Connection

PHOTO CREDIT(S): TERRY LINKE

In what might be the biggest cultural event in Southwest Florida history, the venerated Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will make its Florida debut at Artis—Naples on March 1-2 as part of a three-year residency program. The residency will consist of six performances, two in 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as community partnerships and educational initiatives led by members of the orchestra.

“Sharing the impeccable musicianship of this celebrated ensemble with our community is one of the greatest partnerships we’ve established for Artis— Naples,” said Kathleen van Bergen, CEO and President. “It’s a rare and exciting opportunity to present an orchestra steeped in European tradition and history. This residency will have a lasting impact on our community and reinforce our city as a cultural destination. Hosting an orchestra of such great stature and reputation exemplifies the artistic excellence for which Artis—Naples has become known.”

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Valery Gergiev, will launch its residency next month with two concerts. On March 1, the orchestra will perform Richard Wagner’s Overture to The Flying Dutchman, Debussy’s evocative La mer and Ravel’s adaptation of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The second evening features selections from Wagner’s Parsifal paired with Tchaikovsky’s Manfred, a unique programmatic symphony composed between his fourth and fifth symphonies.

“It will be our great pleasure to come to Naples, sharing our music, reachingout to audiences, and interacting with the community,” said Harald Krumpöck, managing director of the Vienna Philharmonic. “As our motto, taken from Beethoven, says, ‘from the heart, to the heart.’”

For Kathleen, the Vienna residency another sign of the growing cultural strength of Artis—Naples.

“As Southwest Florida’s premier arts organization, Artis— Naples is committed to presenting the highest quality music performances and art collections. Two years ago we appointed esteemed conductor Andrey Boreyko as Music Director and he is taking the Naples Philharmonic’s level of music-making to new heights,” she said. “The Baker Museum continues to grow in significance thanks to our curatorial team and the generous patrons who have recently donated collections. The Vienna Philharmonic residency in Naples is yet another step in our effort to bring the best cultural arts of the world to our community.”

During each residency, members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will interact with the community in a variety of initiatives ranging from public master classes with members of the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra to lectures on Viennese culture and traditions as part of Artis—Naples’ popular Lifelong Learning continuing education series, which has more than 7,500 participants each year. Further initiatives may include panel discussions and symposia to be announced at a later date.

VIENNA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

There is perhaps no other musical ensemble more closely associated with the history and tradition of European classical music than the Vienna Philharmonic.

Since its inception by Otto Nicolai in 1842, the fascination that the orchestra has held for prominent composers and conductors, as well as for audiences worldwide, is based not only on a homogenous musical style carefully bequeathed from one generation to the next, but also on its unique history and structure. The foremost ruling body of the organization is the orchestra itself.

In accordance with Philharmonic statutes, only a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra can become a member of the Vienna Philharmonic. Before joining the Philharmonic, one must first audition for a position with the State Opera Orchestra and then successfully complete a three year period before becoming eligible to submit an application for membership in the association of the Vienna Philharmonic.

The Vienna Philharmonic performs approximately 110 concerts every season at home, presents Vienna Philharmonic Weeks in New York and Japan, and has participated in the Salzburg Festival since 1922. The orchestra makes yearly guest appearances in leading concert halls and festivals worldwide, presents the New Year’s Concert, which is broadcast in over 90 countries, and presents the free Summer Night Concert Schönbrunn, attracting up to 100,000 people annually.

In 2014, the Vienna Philharmonic received the coveted Birgit Nilsson Prize for outstanding achievements and major contributions to the field of opera/concert, and the Herbert von Karajan Music Price 2014. For over a decade, the Vienna Philharmonic has given benefit concerts supporting humanitarian causes around the world and has served as an official Goodwill Ambassador for IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) since 2012.