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Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin directing

The world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic is joined by a guest soloist in “Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s Summer Night Concert” on GREAT PERFORMANCES – Aug. 25 at 9 pm


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Great Performances Presents:

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s Summer Night Concert

Friday, August 25 at 9:00 pm on PBS

Conducted for the first time by Metropolitan Opera Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin

 

A beloved summer tradition, Great Performances presents the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s summer night concert from Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace Gardens. Focusing on musical works from French Romanticism to Impressionism, the orchestra is led for the first time by Metropolitan Opera music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and features Elīna Garanča as a soloist performing three arias from “Carmen,” “Sapho” and “Samson et Dalila.”

Also performed for the first time is a composition by Lili Boulanger, the first female winner of the prestigious Prix de Rome for her work in 1913. Great Performances: Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2023 premieres Friday, August 25 at 9 p.m. on PBS, pbs.org/gperf and the PBS app.

 

Elīna Garanča in bright raspberry dress sitting on porch
Elīna Garanča.
Courtesy of Sarah Katharina

Talent:

  • Yannick Nézet-Séguin – Conductor
  • Elīna Garanča – Mezzo-Soprano Soloist
  • Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

 

Musical program:

  • Suite No. 1 from “Carmen” – Georges Bizet
  • “Habanera” from “Carmen” – Georges Bizet
  • “D‘un matin de printemps” – Lili Boulanger
  • “Le Corsaire” Overture – Hector Berlioz
  • “O ma lyre immortelle” aria from “Sapho” – Charles Gounod
  • “Daphnis et Chloé” Suite No. 2 – Maurice Ravel
  • “Mon cœur s’ouvre à ta voix” aria from “Samson et Dalila” – Camille Saint-Saëns
  • “Boléro” – Maurice Ravel
  • “Viennese Spirit” Waltz – Johann Strauss Jr.

 

Noteworthy Facts:

  • This is the first time Metropolitan Opera music conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin is conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s summer concert.
  • The performance of “D‘un matin de printemps” is dedicated to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed 75 years ago and strengthened 30 years ago at the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights.
  • The Vienna Philharmonic has performed the Summer Night Concert from the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens in Vienna since 2004.