The end of the year 2023 will see the Johann Strauss Ensemble back on the road in Romania. Together with two special guests, soprano Paula Jeckstadt and baritone Michael Havlicheck, the musicians will perform in Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, in Arad, and Oradea.
According to a report in News.ro, the new concept of the “Vienna Magic” concert, created especially for the Romanian audience, includes a varied program of classical music. This includes the inevitable waltzes loved by dozens of generations to arias from some of the greatest composers of all times, such as Johann Strauss I and II, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Lehar, Karl Komzak or Julius Fucik.
The conductor and first soloist (and owner of a violin made by Carlo Giuseppe Testore in 1697 – the “younger sister” of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous viola) will be Russell McGregor. Born in Oxford, UK, he grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where at the age of 7 he began studying violin. Since 1992, Russell has lived in Vienna, and since 1997 he has been concertmaster and conductor of the Schöbrunn Palace Orchestra. Opera stars such as Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras or Ildiko Raimondi have performed under his baton.
Nineteenth century tradition
The Johann Strauss Ensemble Orchestra was founded in 1985 by members of the Bruckner Orchester in Linz. During its prodigious artistic activity, the Ensemble has worked tirelessly to perfect its sound and style, adding new and innovative pieces to the original repertoire. Conductor Russell McGregor joined the ensemble in 2004. Following the tradition of nineteenth-century Strauss concertos, he conducts in the Stehgeiger style, i.e. as a soloist.
Tickets went on sale at variable prices depending on location and seat category:
- December 11, Patria Hall – Brasov | Tickets on Iabilet.ro, Ticketnet.ro, Bilete.ro, Spectacolebrasov.ro and at the box office of Patria Hall.
- December 12th, Florin Piersic Cinema – Cluj-Napoca | Tickets on Iabilet.ro, Ticketnet.ro, Bilete.ro, Eventbook.ro and at the Florin Piersic Cinema box office.•
- December 13, Ioan Slavici Classical Theatre – Arad | Tickets on Iabilet.ro, Ticketnet.ro, Bilete.ro, at the box office of the Ioan Slavici Philharmonic and Theatre.
- December 14, Speranta Baptist Church – Oradea | Tickets on Iabilet.ro, Ticketnet.ro and Bilete.ro.