Summer Sonata: A festival of opera, ballet and concert films

The International Centre in Delhi is presenting a selection of six ballets and concert films. This “Summer Sonata” festival will showcase films and cultural works from various parts of the world, paying tribute to the esteemed artist RP Jain.

Curated and introduced by Sunit Tandon and Samaresh Chatterji, the festival will span 20 days, providing an opportunity for Delhiites to experience a diverse range of global cinema and culture. Operas and ballets that generally belong to the Western world have also found takers in the Capital.

Screening Schedule:

Vincenzo Bellini: La Sonnambula (The Sleepwalker)

International bel canto stars Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Florez play the young lovers in this tale of a young girl whose sleepwalking puts her romance in jeopardy. The opera is set in a modern-day rehearsal room where the players are preparing a traditional staging of the opera. What is unmistakable is the beauty of Bellini’s haunting melodies and a feast of sublime singing from the matchless duo of Dessay and Florez.

Ballet: Don Quixote

Baryshnikov’s sparkling full-length production of Don Quixote captures all the excitement, Spanish color, and humor of Cervantes’ original masterpiece. It is one of the most popular and joyful ballets surviving from the Imperial Russian ballet’s repertoire.

Opening Concert: Berlin 750 Years

In 1987, Berlin celebrated the 750th anniversary of its founding, and on May 1st, a significant musical event opened the official celebration of this anniversary. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of its Music Director, Herbert von Karajan, played the Divertimento in D major, K. 334 by Mozart and the sensational tone poem Thus Spake Zarathustra by Richard Strauss.

Puccini: Tosca

Jonathan Kent’s atmospheric and evocative production of Tosca features three of the finest singers; Angela Gheorghiu’s sensitively portrayed Tosca is paired with Jonas Kaufmann’s intense and compelling Cavaradossi, while Bryn Terfel is thrillingly malevolent as Scarpia. Antonio Pappano’s masterfully paced conducting captures all the drama and beauty of Puccini’s exhilarating opera.

Ballet: Spartacus

The inherent cinematic approach in Grigorovich’s staging of Khachaturian’s score falls perfectly in place. Vladimir Vasiliev, as the slave who leads an unsuccessful revolt against the Romans, dances and acts at a heroic level that is the performance of a lifetime.

Klemperer Conducts Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

A monumental interpretation of Beethoven’s iconic Choral Symphony that concludes with the Ode to Joy, conducted by one of the most towering Beethoven interpreters of his generation. Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 8th November 1964.

Where: IIC Art Gallery, C.D Deshmukh Auditorium

When: June 7 to 27