The ‘spectacular opening’ (Salzburger Nachrichten) of the Grafenegg Festival 2018 presented at the Midsummer Night's Gala lots of famous opera aria and orchestral hits from Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Bellini, Offenbach, Elgar and more. The Tonkunstler Orchestra under Yutaka Sado was joined by the ‘terrific singer’ (Kurier) Pretty Yende, her ‘congenial partner’ (Kurier) Joseph Calleja and the wonderful cellist Harriet Krijgh. ‘A feast for the ears’ (Kurier).

Composers:

   Arditi, Luigi (1822-1903)
   Bellini, Vincenzo (1801-35)
   Berlioz, Hector (1803-69)
   Bernstein, Leonard (1918-90)
   Elgar, Edward William (1857-1934)
   Giménez, Gerónimo (1854-1923)
   Offenbach, Jacques (1819-80)
   Popper, David (1843-1913)
   Puccini, Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria (1858-1924)
   Rossini, Gioacchino Antonio (1792-1868)
   Verdi, Giuseppe (1813-1901)

Works:

   Arditi: Il Bacio
   Bellini: O rendetemi la speme...Qui la voce sua soave...Vien, diletto (from I Puritani)
   Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24: Rákóczi March
   Bernstein: Divertimento for Orchestra: Waltz
   Bernstein: Maria (from West Side Story)
   Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D major, Op. 39 No. 1
   Giménez: Me llaman la primorosa (from El Barbero de Sevilla)
   Offenbach: Les Larmes de Jacqueline (No. 3 from Harmonies des bois, Op. 76)
   Popper: Hungarian Rhapsody, Op. 68
   Puccini: E lucevan le stelle (from Tosca)
   Rossini: La gazza ladra Overture
   Verdi: Aida: Ballabile
   Verdi: Parigi, o cara (from La Traviata)
   Verdi: Se quel guerrier io fossi!…Celeste Aida (from Aida)