Carmina Burana – A musical firework

Monastery Eberbach/Foto: Ansgar Klostermann

The former Cistercian monastery of Eberbach is the perfect location for the performance of Carl Orff’s musical firework “Carmina Burana”.  It was also chosen for the film adaptation of Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose” from 300 monasteries when looking for a suitable medieval venue. It is not surprising that Carmina Burana has been fully booked three times at this year’s Rheingau Music Festival. This was also emphasised by Michael Herrmann, artistic director and managing director of the festival, in his welcoming speech in the basilica. The Rheingau landscape in which the monastery is nestled and the simple, three-aisled Romanesque basilica, built between 1136 and 1186, have a magical attraction. Continue reading “Carmina Burana – A musical firework”

Beethoven and Smetana at the opening of the Rheingau Music Festival 2024

Bruce Liu, Piano, accompanied by the hr-Sinfonieorchester conducted by Alain Altinoglu, in the Kurhaus of Wiesbaden, Friedrich-von-Thiersch-Saal/Foto: Ansgar Klostermann, RMF

The magnificent Friedrich-von-Thiersch-Saal in the Kurhaus of the Hessian capital Wiesbaden was the place where Bruce Liu, the 27-year-old Canadian pianist of Chinese origin, accompanied by the hr-sinfony Orchestra, conducted by Alain Altinoglu, showed off his skills on June 23, 2024, the second day of the opening concert of the Rheingau Music Festival 2024.

“One of the most fascinating talents of his generation” wrote Continue reading “Beethoven and Smetana at the opening of the Rheingau Music Festival 2024”