The total number of performances at the music festival 2017 counted more than 60. The concert venue was diverse and not limited to Semperoper or Kulturpalast, but spread to 22 different places, such as churches, museums, art gallery, music college hall, open air at Neumarkt, Palais in the Grand Garden of Dresden with vibrant baroque architecture (inside the mansion is under restoration) in vast garden, Wacherbarth Castel with beautiful vineyard and winery etc.. You can enjoy more than music there.
Mozart concert by B’Rock Orchestra was performed under the direction of René Jacobs at the Martin Luther Church in the new town. It was carried out in the 18th century style; each movement of late symphonies and some Arias from „Don Giovanni“, „The Marriage of Figaro“, „The Magic Flute“ and „ The Abduction from the Seraglio“ were played alternately. Two soloists, Mari Eriksmoen (soprano) with beautiful and lovely stretching voice and Johannes Weisser (Baritone) were wonderful. Those two singers interwoven skillfully their performance with some acting. Jacobs fascinated me with adding an elaborate tempo and somewhat unique agogik. The altar of the Luther church was illuminated with blue violet light, which made it beautifully shining and truly fantastic.
At the Frauenkirche, I listened to the concert of the Music Festival Orchestra with Waltraud Meier as soloist. Meier’s deep round voice still exists, but I felt that it was not her best, as she was singing with semitone lower. The orchestra was probably not yet ready because the members were trying to seek for their common language in ensemble. The conductor could have showed more his „need“ for the pieces. I think my impression would have been manipulated by highest expectation. I’m sure the orchestra will get better if they play more together.
Chamber music as a whole was full of charm with lots of interesting string instrument players. Some of them were especially fascinating. For example, the cellist, Claudio Bohórquez and the violinist, Philippe Quint. They played with pianist Boris Giltburg. Their music is precise, but free and passionate. Young violinist In-Mo Yang from South Korea made recital with strong technique and clean sound at the wine production building (factory) of Wackerbarth Castle.
