Claudio Abbado conducts “Songs of Love and Desire” at the 1998 New Year’s Eve Concert

Songs of Love and Desire was how the Berliner Philharmoniker subtitled their 1998 New Year’s Eve Concert. The various ways these powerful human emotions manifest themselves was to be heard in famous arias and scenes by Mozart, Verdi and Tchaikovsky. The evening’s soloists were Christine Schäfer, Simon Keenlyside and Marcelo Àlvarez plus special guest Mirella Freni.

Berliner Philharmoniker

Claudio Abbado

Christine Schäfer

Simon Keenlyside

Marcelo Álvarez

Mirella Freni

Programme Guide

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492: Overture · “Giunse alfin il momento” – “Deh vieni non tardar” Christine Schäfer Soprano
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Don Giovanni: “Deh! Vieni alla finestra” Simon Keenlyside Baritone
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Die Zauberflöte: “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen” Simon Keenlyside Baritone Christine Schäfer Soprano
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Don Giovanni: “Fin ch’han dal vino” · “Là ci darem la mano” Simon Keenlyside Baritone Christine Schäfer Soprano
Georges Bizet L’Arlésienne, Suites No. 1 and No. 2: Carillon · Farandole
Gioacchino Rossini La gazza ladra: Overture
Giuseppe Verdi Rigoletto: “E il sol dell’anima” · “Addio... speranza ed anima” · “Caro nome” · “La donna è mobile” Marcelo Álvarez Tenor Christine Schäfer Soprano
Giuseppe Verdi Un ballo in maschera: “Eri tu che macchiavi quell’anima” Simon Keenlyside Baritone
Hector Berlioz Le Carnaval romain, Ouverture caractéristique, op. 9
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin: Polonaise · “Puskai pogilabnu ya, no pryezhde” (Letter scene) Mirella Freni Soprano
Giuseppe Verdi La traviata: “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” (Brindisi) Mirella Freni Soprano Christine Schäfer Soprano Simon Keenlyside Baritone Marcelo Álvarez Tenor

Claudio Abbado conducts “Songs of Love and Desire” at the 1998 New Year’s Eve Concert

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