Spotlight on ... a Wunderkind & a Marvel

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's miracle work »Elijah« is the centrepiece of the Choral Concert II on Good Friday. Since its triumphant premiere in 1846, this oratorio for soloists, choir and orchestra has been regarded as one of the greatest works of music literature - its »fans« have included personalities such as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the latter of whom even presented the composer with a signed programme as a sign of his admiration.

In Salzburg, star baritone Christian Gerhaher sings the title role. The Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Chorus of the Bavarian Radio will be conducted by the young but already internationally successful conductor Maxim Emelyanychev, who recently made his debut with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker to great acclaim.

»He is dynamic, energetic and exciting to watch, exhilarating for musicians and audience alike.«

The Guardian about Maxim Emelyanychev

3 Questions to Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev

You started conducting at the age of 12. How did that happen?

My parents are musicians, so it was very easy for me to enter the world of music. My father was an orchestral musician, my mother a choral singer. From the age of three, I took part in the life of musicians, at concerts and behind the scenes. My father brought us textbooks from the library and I simply learnt music from them.

You recently said in an interview that it is important to »create an atmosphere of peace, calm and happiness for the duration of an evening«. Why is that so important?

For me, music is art when we create all the emotions right now, in this moment. So playing live is an art form. We experience so many impressions around us in everyday life, but in the concert hall it is important to create this harmony and peace - even if only for two hours. All of us together, orchestra, singers and the audience. I think we musicians would be happy if the audience could maintain this feeling outside the concert hall as well.

What is so special about Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy?

I like Mendelssohn's approach to music. He started writing music when he was still very young - he was one of the first to return to old music at the beginning of the 19th century. When he performed pieces such as Johann Sebastian Bach's Passions with his orchestra, it was a big deal! And I find this extremely exciting combination in his music: the influence of early music and the romantic »Sturm und Drang« ...

Read the full interview here

Christian Gerhaher sings Elijah

Christian Gerhaher, who already wowed audiences in 2023 with his outstanding portrayal of Wolfram von Eschenbach in Richard Wagner's »Tannhäuser«, will return to the Easter Festival in 2025 in the title role of Mendelssohn's oratorio »Elijah«.

The renowned German baritone has been chosen as Artist in Residence by leading orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker as well as the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Vienna and Wigmore Hall in London. He has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with pianist Gerold Huber since his student days, and they performed a recital together at last year's Salzburg Easter Festival.

For his performances as Prince von Homburg at the Theater an der Wien and Wolfram at the Vienna and Bavarian State Operas, Gerhaher was not only voted Singer of the Year in 2010, but also received the coveted Laurence Olivier Award in 2011.

Choral Concert II

Biography of
Maxim Emelyanychev