Beethovens Neunte

Porträt einer Frau mit gelocktem Haar und Blazer, Hände gefaltet, umrahmt von geometrischen Formen für Styriarte.

Shows

The Styriarte Festspiel-Orchester mit Andrés Orozco-Estrada auf der Bühne. Styriarte Festival Orchestra under the direction of Melissa Dermastia von Styriarte mit Stimmgabel, im Freien aufgenommen. Melissa Dermastia and a number of brilliant soloists pay tribute to the unrivalled sound and space of the Publikum bei einer Styriarte-Aufführung im Grazer Stefaniensaal. Orchester auf der Bühne. Stefaniensaal, including Beethoven's Ninth.

Content

The programme for the opening of the Stefaniensaal in November 1908

It was in November 1908 that the first Graz audience took their seats in the new Stefaniensaal and today it is still a shrine to fine music with its fantastic accoustics and dignified aura. The opening of the concert hall featured an opulent programme, now to be performed again at the Styriarte 2025: cathedral Kapellmeister Melissa Dermastia plays Bach’s Toccata, Adagio und Fugue, and then conducts Schumann’s Piano Concerto and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Graz Cathedral Choir, the Styriarte Festival Orchestra, first-class soloists and virtuoso pianists all contribte to making this a great festive celebration.

Programme

Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major for organ solo
Camille Saint-Saëns: Variations on a theme by Beethoven for two pianos
Robert Schumann: Piano concerto in A minor, op. 54
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125

Duration: around 2 1/2 hours with intermission

Tickets

Prices: EUR 24 / 48 / 72 / 108 / 144

Reductions:
U27 (for all under 27) & Ö1 Intro: 50 % reduction

Maria Ladurner

Soprano

Excellent stylistics and a brightly shining vocal sound are the qualities with which Maria Ladurner has rushed from success to success in the baroque and classical repertoire. In addition to guest appearances at numerous European houses, she also made her Styriarte debut in 2020 at the Festival opening with the leading role in J. J. Fux's "Gifts of the Night".

Margot Oitzinger

Mezzo-soprano

The mezzo-soprano has a love for early music: the Graz-born singer has made a name for herself both as a concert singer and as an opera interpreter and works with renowned conductors such as the exceptional talent Jordi Savall. Polyphonic and early baroque ensemble singing are as much a part of her daily routine as the works of high baroque masters as a soloist.

Mario Lerchenberger

Tenor

The role profile of the tenor, who was born in Villach in 1992, ranges from Claudio Monteverdi and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. He has worked at the Graz Opera and has been a member of the ensemble at the Semperoper in Dresden since the 2024/25 season. Outside of opera, Mario Lerchenberger can be heard in oratorios and as a lieder singer. Another artistic mainstay is choral conducting.

Mathias Hausmann

Baritone

He made his debut at La Scala in Milan in 2009 as Moralès in Bizet's ‘Carmen’ under Daniel Barenboim and alongside Jonas Kaufmann and Erwin Schrott. The baritone, who was born in Bruck an der Mur, owes his grandfather Karl Ernst Hoffmann and mentor Thomas Hampson important impulses for a successful career that has taken him via opera houses in Graz, Vienna and Munich to the Leipzig Opera.

Philipp Scheucher

Piano

At the age of just 17, the Styrian made his debut with the Recreation Orchestra in the Stefaniensaal with Mozart's ninth piano concerto. Since then, the exceptional young pianist from Markus Schirmer's former piano class has caused an international sensation with first prizes and acclaimed guest appearances. His deepest love is for the works of Beethoven, but he is also fond of contemporary composers.

Olga Čepovecka

Piano

The young Latvian, born in Riga in 1997, is a particularly brightly shining jewel from Markus Schirmer's talent factory. With a self-confident style and brilliant technique, she performs both classical and contemporary works. However, she also loves conducting, arranging, the art of counterpoint and historical keyboard instruments. She made a memorable appearance at Styriarte in 2020 for the world premiere of Gerd Kühr's Corona Meditation.

Konzertchor der Dommusik

Choir

Since its construction in the 15th century, Graz Cathedral has been the source of the Styrian capital's sound. Where Frederick III had vocalists from Germany and Holland sing from 1462 onwards, it was cathedral conductor Anton Lippe who led the choir to international recognition after the First World War. With a liturgical repertoire ranging from Gregorian chant to modern works, the concert choir now regularly makes guest appearances in many European countries.

Styriarte Festival Orchestra

Orchestra

Styriarte's orchestral "Supergroup" is made up of changing international star guests and musicians from the first-class fund of the Recreation orchestra, depending on need and occasion. The orchestra's tuning and choice of instruments follow the historical requirements of the works performed.

Melissa Dermastia

Conductor & Organ

She has been a cathedral choirmaster since 2023 and conducts the Graz Cathedral Choir. As a master student of Erwin Ortner (she received the Erwin Ortner Prize for the Promotion of Choral Music in 2022), she, who also conducts the Carinthian Madrigal Choir in Klagenfurt and teaches organ at the Vienna University of Music, has learnt from the best. Born in Maria Saal in Carinthia, the conductor leads the artful polyphonic singing at Graz Cathedral throughout the liturgical year.