Sound adventures at NEST

Do you love unusual concert programs? Exciting discoveries? Varied music? Then you should come to NEST in April! Under the title NESTKLANG, three concerts will take place in which the musicians of the stage orchestra will present multifaceted programs, from Britten to Dvořák, from Ravel to film music.

But first things first: The Vienna State Opera's stage orchestra is the orchestra that comes into its own when music is played on or behind the stage. So when musicians are called upon on stage in Don Giovanni, when a trumpeter in Don Pasquale also plays a part in the production, when a cannon shot (actually a drumbeat) is heard from offstage: Stage orchestra! But the stage musicians are also involved in the traveling operas for children throughout the Haus am Ring. And above all: at NEST, they are the house orchestra and the musical backbone of the company. Whether it's a Nesterval or a children's opera premiere, a ballet or a Puccini evening: these are the musicians. In order to be able to realize this, not only the highest instrumental virtuosity is required, but also an enormous artistic range. And this is precisely what the NESTKLANG series brings to bear. Different eras, styles, approaches: ideal for such an ensemble! The opening concert of this year's cycle took place in February, followed by three more events in April.

An evening that builds bridges to the USA, among other things: You can hear excerpts from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (arranged by violin legend Jascha Heifetz), as well as Maurice Ravel's Second Violin Sonata. Violinist Elena Krylova: "This piece is one of Ravel's most elegant and at the same time most original works and was written in the 1920s. Ravel deliberately emphasizes the independence of the violin and piano, creating a delicate, almost ascetic dialogue rather than a tonal fusion of the two instruments. The second movement 'Blues', in which elements of jazz are taken up, is particularly well-known. The entire sonata combines a transparent movement style, refined harmony and a certain tonal distance, which gives it a character that is both elegant and slightly mysterious."

Also on the program: Antonín Dvořák's Piano Quintet op. 8, which is "full of melodic bliss, energy and brilliance", according to first violinist Luka Kusztrich. "The quintet captivates with its dramatic structure, which enables an organic flow of playing. Dvořák draws on folk music forms such as the dumka or the furiant." The pianist for this concert is the musical coordinator of NEST, Dan K. Kurland.

Program & Tickets

The Canticles are a series of five vocal works that the English composer Benjamin Britten wrote over a period of almost 30 years and which have a religious (if not entirely biblical) background. The tenor part was written for Peter Pears, Benjamin Britten's artistic and private partner. The delicate scoring of the Canticles offers an intimate range of instruments, some of which only include piano, others harp and horn. In reference to the five pieces, a Britten connoisseur once spoke of small musical dramas, scenes that unfold an enormous theatrical power despite their slender form. In addition to ensemble member Hiroshi Amako, NEST also features members of the Vienna State Opera's opera studio. Conductor: Dan K. Kurland.

Program & Tickets

The final event is a family concert in which brass players and percussionists come together to present a colorful mix of music: Fanfares and film music, opera sounds and much more are on the program. Musician and mediator Karin Meissl moderates the event and introduces her audience to the world of sound: What do individual instruments sound like? How do they work together? What images arise in our heads? What does music do to us? An afternoon for everyone aged eight and over who wants to get a taste of the world of music - or simply can't get enough of music!