MENDELSSOHN: ELIJAH – THEATER AN DER WIEN, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

16 February 2019
ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Christian Gerhaher(Elijah), Maria Bengtsson, Maximilian Schmitt, Ann-Beth Solvang, Kai Rüütel

“Leading the Radio Symphonieorchester Wien, Jukka-Pekka Saraste furiously breathed life into the dense score with great clarity and urgent intensity, yet holding the orchestra back sufficiently to let the singers shine.. A fine musical evening, its power originating from its starkness.”

18 February 2019
Judith Belfkih, Wiener Zeitung

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NEW PRODUCTION OF MENDELSSOHN’S ELIAS AT THEATER AN DER WIEN

Mendelssohn’s oratorio, directed by Calixto Bieito, will receive its premiere in Vienna on February 16 2019.
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SHOSTAKOVICH/BRUCKNER – GREAT FESTIVAL HALL, SALZBURG, AUSTRIA

14 November 2018
WDR Sinfonieorchester, Alban Gerhardt

“…this shows how exciting Beethoven can sound without period instruments.”

“The outstanding sound of the orchestra was most apparent in the funeral march, which was a triumph not least thanks to the fabulous woodwinds. And have you ever heard the three horns in the Scherzo played more brilliantly? At any rate, this Beethoven interpretation seemed to work like a charm.”

15 November 2018
Salzburger Nachrichten, Florian Oberhummer

SHOSTAKOVICH/BRUCKNER – COLOGNE PHILHARMONIE, GERMANY

10 November 2018
WDR Sinfonieorchester, Alban Gerhardt

“Powerful outbreaks of energy, brilliant crescendi and beautifully staged transitions.

…The perfomance was highly convincing and captivating; brilliantly played.”

12 November 2018
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Markus Schwering

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WDR SINFONIEORCHESTER IN SALZBURG AND VIENNA

The orchestra plays Bruckner, Beethoven and Shostakovich at the Salzburg Festpielhaus and Konzerhaus Vienna this November.
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DEBUSSY/SAINT-SAENS/SIBELIUS – SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE, AUSTRALIA

17,19&20 October 2018
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Jean-Yves Thibaudet

“…superb performance…

…well-judged tempo contrasts, scrupulous dynamic control, dark-hued, unvarnished sonorities and tight-knit ensemble created a dramatic, intensely expressive interpretation that revealed an insightful understanding of the symphony’s distinctive structure and each movement’s specific character.”

18 October 2018
Murray Black, The Australian

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BERG/MAHLER – TONHALLE MAAG, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND

12, 13&14 September 2018
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Janine Jansen

“Saraste’s first movement was given an emphatic, exhilarating reading…graceful and elegant in the Ländler, properly savage in the Rondo-Burleske.
The final ‘dying’ movement was a glory, with enchanting solos from both concertmaster Andreas Janke and principal viola Gilad Karni. After almost inaudible closing bars, Saraste held the audience in the palm of his hand before allowing them to start the generous applause.”

14 September 2018
John Rhodes, Seen and Heard International

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Beethoven: Symphonies 4&5

Profil – PH17084

“An air of faint enigma has always wafted around Saraste. His image of Beethoven, however, is captivating due to its unity, compactness, decisiveness. These qualities of conceptual clarity can also be traced back to the exemplary state of his orchestra…. Saraste’s ability to conjure elastic details from the closely woven parts of the Fourth, which otherwise leaves little space within its dense fabric, is amazing. It’s very good work with a great sense for detail, without losing sight of the whole. We are presented with a conductor who has his own approach to Beethoven. Saraste proves here that there is still juice in these too-frequently-squeezed lemons.”

Kai Luehrs-Kaiser, FonoForum, September 2018

“Saraste’s detailed and unforced conducting and the first rate playing of the WDR Symphony Orchestra make this a most successful CD, all the more so because of the excellent sound quality.”

Remy Franck, Pizzicato, June 2018

BRAHMS: SYMPHONIES NOS. 1-4

Profil – PH18032

“Highly Recommended”

AllMusic, Blair Sanderson, July 2018

“Jukka-Pekka Saraste’s series of Brahms symphonies with his WDR Symphony Orchestra is particularly exciting as a surprising approach is taken for each single work, according to its individual character. Saraste and his orchestra savour the Phrygian key of the slow movement’s main motif to the full, with perfect beauty of sound. The Allegro giocoso sounds powerful and exuberant, and the finale determined.”

LvG, WAZ, April 2018