Teodor Currentzis, a rising star in the classical music scene, made his sensational debut in China last year, but he didn’t stop by Shenzhen on that tour.

For the first time, the Greek conductor will grace the Shenzhen Concert Hall this weekend with his MusicAeterna Orchestra, performing the works of Wagner, Mahler, Brahms, and Shostakovich.
 

The MusicAeterna Orchestra Photo by Alexandra Muravyeva
 

For Saturday’s concert, the program will include Richard Wagner’s “Prelude and Liebestod” from the opera “Tristan und Isolde” and Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp Minor.” The prelude is Wagner’s musical monument to repressed and unacknowledged love, culminating in an expression of fulfillment through death after emotional torment. Mahler’s fifth symphony, in five movements, transitions from an opening funeral march to a triumphant finale, representing his emphatic affirmation of life.

Olga Volkova  Photo by Alexandra Muravyeva
 

Chinese fans flooded the social media platform Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) with awe and admiration for the conductor last October after attending his concerts. “I was moved to tears,” one user wrote. “These musicians revived classical music, conveying its original vitality to contemporary audiences.”

Aged 51, Currentzis is sometimes described as a disruptive force in European classical music. People are not only impressed by his cool and smart appearance but also by his unparalleled and distinctive interpretations of classical works. Born in Greece, he pursued training under the legendary professor Ilya Musin at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory in 1994.

In 2004, Currentzis gathered musicians from 15 nations to establish the musicAeterna Orchestra and Choir, assuming the role of its artistic director. Lacking funds, adequate instruments, and rehearsal venues, the initial ensemble consisted of 39 musicians and 27 choir members, including a 16-year-old music student. Under Currentzis’ magical direction, musicAeterna blossomed into a remarkable force over 15 years, making their debut at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall in 2014. In 2017, the ensemble received an invitation to present 10 concerts at the prestigious Salzburg Festival.

The ensemble performs medieval sacred music, baroque opera, and experimental works by modern avant-garde composers, often commissioning new works.

“The musicAeterna is unique because all its members are soloists,” Currentzis said, as quoted by The Paper. “Despite our modest repertoire, we imbue every rehearsal with our hearts. Each member is driven by a sense of purpose and a desire to convey their own interpretation of the music.”

Currentzis’ China tour this year, spanning from Nov. 19 to Dec. 2, takes him to Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, and Shenzhen, with two concerts scheduled in each city.

Tickets: 280-1,080 yuan

Time: 8 p.m., Nov. 30; 3 p.m., Dec. 1

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音乐厅)   

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children's Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D