Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries [Berlin Philharmonic, Levine]

Conducted by the American conductor and pianist James Levine, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Berliner Philharmoniker) plays “Ride of the Valkyries”, (German: Walkürenritt or Ritt der Walküren), the beginning of act 3 of Die Walküre, (The Valkyrie), WWV 86B, an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner with a German libretto by the composer himself. From the Waldbühne Berlin – A Romantic Opera Night (1999).

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Marguerite Gérard: Painter when painting a portrait of a lute player

A beautiful painting by Marguerite Gérard: “Painter when painting a portrait of a lute player”. Around the year 1790 (we are sure that it is before 1803).

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The Wedding at Cana [Paolo Veronese]

The Wedding at Cana (or The Wedding Feast at Cana) is a massive oil painting (666 cm × 990 cm – 262 in × 390 in) by Paolo Veronese, the Italian late-Renaissance or Mannerist painter. He is most famous for large history paintings of both religious and mythological subjects. The painting is on display in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, where it is the largest painting in that museum’s collection.

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Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 2 [Denis Matsuev]

Accompanied by the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, the Russian classical pianist Denis Matsuev performs Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44. Conductor: Valery Gergiev. Recorded in May 2015 in Moscow.

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Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto [David Oistrakh, 1968]

Accompanied by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, renowned Soviet classical violinist David Oistrakh performs Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35. Conductor: Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Written in 1878, the piece is one of the best-known violin concertos and is considered one of the most technically difficult works for the violin. Performed and recorded in the Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow on September 27, 1968.

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Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 3 [Kopatchinskaja, Say]

Moldovan-Austrian violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Turkish pianist Fazıl Say perform Johannes Brahms’ Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108. Composed between 1878 and 1888, it is the last violin sonata of the German composer.

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Juan Diego Flórez sings Bésame Mucho, Cielito Lindo, and Granada

Peruvian operatic tenor Juan Diego Flórez sings three Mexican songs with guitar: Bésame Mucho, Cielito Lindo and Granada. On the occasion of the Eurovision Song Contest, a matinée was held in the Vienna State Opera on May 17, 2015: “Pop meets Opera”. On stage were opera stars such as Juan Diego Flórez, the ensemble “The Philharmonics” (musicians of the State Opera Orchestra/Vienna Philharmonic), last year’s Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst and ESC candidates from various participating countries. Barbara Rett moderated.

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Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 [Daniil Trifonov and the Israel Camerata Orchestra]

Accompanied by the Israel Camerata Orchestra, Russian concert pianist and composer Daniil Trifonov plays Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488 at the 13th Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv. Conductor: Avner Biron. Trifonov won the First Prize.

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