Event
Munich Philharmonic
Visiting Orchestras Series
Munich Philharmonic
Lahav Shani, chief conductor
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
Brahms — Violin Concerto
Schubert — Symphony in C Major, “Great”
Widely recognized among the world’s most elite ensembles, the Munich Philharmonic makes its Artis—Naples debut under Chief Conductor Lahav Shani in a performance of two cornerstone works of the repertoire. Brahms’ Violin Concerto features world-renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter as she marks 50 years as a concert artist, bringing depth and authority to one of the genre’s most formidable works. The program concludes with Schubert’s “Great” Symphony, celebrated for its monolithic scale, lyrical breadth, rich orchestration and for expanding the Classical symphonic form. Paired for their shared grandeur and brought to life by some of the most venerable voices in classical music today, this landmark event promises an unforgettable experience.
Music and Museum
All Visiting Orchestras tickets include same-day admission to The Baker Museum. Special museum hours on the day of the Munich Philharmonic performance: 10am-7:30pm. In addition, the doors to Hayes Hall will open 90 minutes prior to this performance. Arrive early to enjoy the exhibitions and light fare available at Heidi's Place.
The Visiting Orchestras series is generously sponsored by Judy and Verne Istock.
Munich Philharmonic
Munich Philharmonic
Since its founding in 1893, the Munich Philharmonic has left an indelible imprint on Munich’s cultural life under the leadership of renowned conductors. Gustav Mahler conducted the orchestra in the world premieres of his Fourth and Eighth symphonies, and, in November 1911, Bruno Walter conducted the world premiere of Das Lied von der Erde, just six months after Mahler’s passing.
The orchestra’s first concert after WWII, opened by Eugen Jochum, included the overture to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn, whose music had been ostracized during the Nazi era. With Hans Rosbaud, the orchestra gained an outstanding leader in the autumn of 1945, a man who passionately advocated modern music.
The orchestra has had a number of eminent chief conductors over the years, including Eugen Jochum, Fritz Rieger, Rudolf Kempe, Sergiu Celibidache, James Levine and Christian Thielemann. From 2015 to 2022, the position of chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic was held by Valery Gergiev. Tours have taken the Munich Philharmonic to numerous European cities as well as to Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan and the U.S.
Lahav Shani
Lahav Shani
A new artistic era for the Munich Philharmonic began in September when Lahav Shani officially took up the baton as the orchestra’s chief conductor. Since 2018, Shani has been the chief conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and, in the 2020-21 season, he replaced the retiring Zubin Mehta as music director for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Before being appointed in early 2023 as the Munich Philharmonic’s new chief conductor, Shani previously served as principal guest conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. In June 2016, he debuted with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra as conductor and solo pianist. No less than two months later, his appointment as chief conductor was announced and he became the youngest conductor to hold the position in the orchestra’s history. Some of his recent highlights included engagements with Wiener Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhaus Orchester, London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and The Philadelphia Orchestra, among others.
Anne-Sophie Mutter
Anne-Sophie Mutter
For nearly five decades, virtuoso violinist Annie-Sophie Mutter has been a fixture in all the world’s major concert halls, making her mark on the classical music scene as a soloist, mentor and visionary. A four-time Grammy Award winner, she is equally committed to the performance of traditional composers as to the future of music.
So far, she has given world premieres of 34 works, many of which have been composed for her, including works by Sir André Previn, John Williams and Norbert Moret. Last year, the year of her 50th anniversary on stage in Lucerne, she once again demonstrated her musical versatility and her unrivalled standing in the world of classical music with performances in Europe, Far East and North America.
Since her recital debut at the 1976 Lucerne Festival and solo debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Herbert von Karajan at the 1977 Salzburg Whitsun Festival, Mutter has frequently performed with the world’s greatest orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Gewandhaus Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, London Symphony Orchestra and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
