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WALTRAUD MEIER, DANIEL HARDING with WAGNER

By Henning Høholt on 11/08/09 • Categorized as Classical music


WALTRAUD MEIER, DANIEL HARDING AND MAHLER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA IN WAGNER

Daniel Harding and Waltraud Meier together with Mahler Chamber Orchestra, performing Tristan and Isolde at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. 09. Photo: Henning Høholt

It was one of the big evenings in Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on Thursday evening, November 5th. 2009, when Daniel Harding conducted the international Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Which for this concert not was a chamber orchestra, but a big wonderful playing Richard Wagner orchestra, with musician from nearly all parts of the world.

The program they have chosen: Richard Wagner: Tristan and Isolde. Interlude to first act and the second act.

Following up the high quality wishes of this orchestra they had chosen the best singers they could find. Waltraud Meier, probably the best Isolde right now in the world, and she was wonderful, shining like a clear star on top of the big orchestra, always present, playing up to her partners, either Brangäne, sung by the brilliant mezzo-soprano Michelle Breedt, which I loved on stage together with Waltraud Meier, but even more when she was overlooking and protecting Isolde by singing behind stage, with a fantastic sound. John Mac Master was a good Tristan, and his diction and tunes sounded very well. It would have been good if he had sung without notes. Then he could have been playing better bag to Isolde, especially in the big love scenes. It was a big pleasure to listen to Franz-Josef Selig as King Marke, what a wonderful voice. Michal Vier was singing both Melot and Kurwenal.

Waltraud Meier in deliciouse yellow galla dress in Paris. Photo: Henning Høholt

Daniel Harding has done a really great work in advance with his international orchestra, it sounded like one of the better orchestras in the world, beautiful and demanding solo parts during the way. It must be a great experience for the Mahler Chamber Orchestra to get so big possibilities as it was in this production. Concert master was Jonathan Crow from Canada.

Mahler Chamber Orchestra at a relaxed moment in Paris 09, foto: Henning Høholt

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