View across the audience to the stage and high altar of the abbey church of Melk at the 2023 opening concert

The Day of Judgement

Georg Philipp Telemann · International Baroque Days Melk Abbey 2023

Telemann’s oratorio with Ivor Bolton, Concentus Musicus Wien, the Vienna Boys’ Choir and Michael Schade – the opening concert of the 2023 festival in the abbey church of Melk.

Concert and opera2023

Photo: © Daniela Matejschek

The International Baroque Days Melk Abbey opened their 2023 festival on 26 May with Georg Philipp Telemann’s “Der Tag des Gerichts”. In this “Singgedicht” in four contemplations, to a libretto by Christian Wilhelm Alers, allegorical figures such as Unbelief, Reason, Devotion and Faith take the stage.

Ivor Bolton conducts Concentus Musicus Wien, the Vienna Boys’ Choir and Chorus sine nomine; the soloists are Marie-Sophie Pollak, Marie-Claude Chappuis, Michael Schade and Matthias Winckhler. The evening opens with “Total eclipse” from Handel’s “Samson”, “De torrente in via bibet” from his “Dixit Dominus” and “Et misericordia” from Bach’s Magnificat.

Concentus Musicus Wien, the Vienna Boys’ Choir and Chorus sine nomine on stage in the abbey church of Melk, seen from above

Applause in front of Concentus Musicus Wien: conductor and soloists at the front of the stage

The soloists with the conductor in front of the high altar of the abbey church of Melk

Photos: © Daniela Matejschek

Facts

Works: Georg Philipp Telemann: Der Tag des Gerichts (The Day of Judgement), TWV 6:8George Frideric Handel: “Total eclipse” from “Samson”, HWV 57“De torrente in via bibet” from “Dixit Dominus”, HWV 232Johann Sebastian Bach: “Et misericordia” from the Magnificat, BWV 243
Original title: Der Tag des Gerichts
Venue and recording: Abbey church of MelkInternational Baroque Days Melk Abbeyopening concert, 26 May 2023
First broadcast: ORF III, 28 May 2023
Running time: 85 min.

Credits

Conductor: Ivor Bolton
Soloists: Marie-Sophie Pollak (soprano)Marie-Claude Chappuis (alto)Michael Schade (tenor)Matthias Winckhler (bass)
Ensembles: Concentus Musicus WienVienna Boys’ Choir (director: Gerald Wirth)Chorus sine nomine (director: Johannes Hiemetsberger)
TV director: Volker Werner
Editing: Abel Czinger, Volker Werner
Camera: Heribert Senegacnik, Hannah Hofstätter, Thomas Kosnar, Wolfgang Rauch, Christopher Spirk, Hermann Weitlaner
Lighting design: Patrick Suppan
Sound: Philipp Treiber, Veronika Weidner
Editorial: Veronika ZimmermannEditor (ORF III): Susanne LuefCommissioning editor (ORF III): Theresa Selzer
Production manager and executive producer: Martin Pichl

Co-production: SCARLATTI Arts international and ORF III
World sales: ORF-Enterprise

Partners

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