Great Performances

-Next on "Great Performances," on a magical summer night in the beautiful baroque gardens of Schoenbrunn, the Vienna Philharmonic and conductor Lorenzo Viotti share classical music for everyone with music from stage and screen.

For opera, they are joined by acclaimed bass baritone Bryn Terfel.

-[ Singing in German ] [ Samba music playing ] -But wait just one minute.

Is that a samba I'm hearing in the land of the waltz?

What else is in store for us on "The Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2026"?

Major funding for "Great Performances" is provided by... The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, supporting the arts and education, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, the Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold, the S. Irving and Anne Nevard Sherr Foundation, the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, the Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, the Starr Foundation, Madeline and Stephen Anbinder, Leni and Peter May, Ellen and James S.

Marcus, and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

Funding for this program is also provided by... [ Applause ] On this beautiful summer night in the gardens of the palace of Schoenbrunn, the Vienna Philharmonic and conductor Lorenzo Viotti have chosen to begin the concert with the "Light Cavalry Overture" by Franz von Supp.

He's known as the father of Viennese operetta.

[ "Light Cavalry Overture" playing ] Conductor Lorenzo Viotti makes a striking debut with the Vienna Philharmonic in Supp's "Light Cavalry Overture."

On this summer night, there's classical music for everyone, both at home and here in the gardens of Schoenbrunn, from the hilltop Gloriette past the Neptune fountain to the magnificent palace itself.

Tonight, the program highlights well-known melodies of song and dance, from opera and ballet to films and musicals.

Joining us now is a longtime friend of the orchestra and one of the world's foremost singers, the bass baritone Bryn Terfel in the role of the devil incarnate.

Mefistofele reveals himself to Faust in response to the poet's question, "Tell me, who are you really?"

[ "Son lo spirito che nega" playing ] -[ Singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Laughs ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Whistles ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Laughs ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Whistling ] [ Others whistling ] Ahh!

[ Whistles ] -Bryn Terfel as Mefistofele whistles his defiance to the delighted crowd of more than 50,000 here in the gardens of Schoenbrunn.

Now, what could be worse than to be banished to the desolation of New Orleans?

But that is exactly the plight of our fallen heroine in Puccini's opera "Manon Lescaut."

His famous intermezzo depicts the urgent passion of young love in its central melody ending in profound despair.

[ Intermezzo from "Manon Lescaut" playing ] [ Applause ] Next, Sir Bryn Terfel returns to the stage as Shakespeare's penniless knight Sir John Falstaff.

The vain, aging yet charmingly intelligent buffoon has decided to seduce two wealthy townswomen with identical love letters in the hope that one will respond.

His rapscallion servants have refused to deliver his notes, as it would be beneath their honor.

Furious, Sir John calls to his page in his opening monologue from Giuseppe Verdi's final opera.

-[ Speaking in Italian ] Ugh!

[ Singing in Italian ] [ "Ehi!

Paggio!"

playing ] [ Snarls ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Chuckles ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Chuckles ] [ Continues singing in Italian ] [ Chuckles ] [ Applause ] -Grabbing a broom, the magnificent Sir Bryn furiously chases those scoundrels from his sight.

Now to the world of ballet.

In Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker," imagine the athletic male dancers kicking their legs while squatting in this exciting Cossack dance, the trepak.

[ "Trepak" playing ] In 1933, Florence Price became the first African-American woman to have her music performed by a major orchestra, the Chicago Symphony.

All but forgotten, her music is having a resurgence.

For "Adoration," she drew inspiration from the organ pieces she played in silent film theaters and churches in her youth.

[ "Adoration" playing ] [ Applause ] Austrian composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold was one of the most influential composers in Hollywood history.

Early in his career, he had rearranged several Johann Strauss operettas for the stage.

In what would be his final orchestral work, he paid homage to the waltz king with his "Straussiana," which he based on little-known melodies by his idol.

[ "Straussiana" playing ] [ Applause ] 36-year-old Swiss conductor Lorenzo Viotti studied percussion and conducting in Vienna and, as a student, even performed with the Philharmonic in the rhythm section.

With the next aria, the orchestra commemorates the premiere of Wagner's "Ring of the Nibelungen" cycle 150 years ago in Bayreuth.

Now, what better place than the Imperial Palace of Schoenbrunn to imagine the splendor of the entrance of the gods into Valhalla?

"In glorious radiance the castle stands resplendent."

[ "Abendlich strahlt der Sonne Auge" playing ] -[ Singing in German ] [ Continues singing in German ] [ Continues singing in German ] [ Continues singing in German ] [ Continues singing in German ] [ Continues singing in German ] [ Continues singing in German ] -Bryn Terfel as Wotan welcomes the gods to their celestial home.

Next, in Massenet's opera "Thais," a beautiful courtesan reflects on her sinful life and seeks redemption during this poignant violin meditation played tonight by our concertmaster, Albena Danailova.

[ "Mditation" playing ] [ Applause ] Albena Danailova was soloist in "Mditation" from the opera "Thais."

She is one of four concertmasters of the Vienna Philharmonic.

Next, a suite from Ravel's ballet he based on an ancient Greek romance.

In it, a shepherd awakens at daybreak and is reunited with his beloved.

Their intense emotions culminate in a dance of ecstatic revelry.

Tonight, six soloists from the Vienna State Ballet join the orchestra in performance as shadows against the palace walls.

[ "Daphnis et Chlo, Suite No.

2" playing ] [ Applause ] For more than 180 years, the Vienna Philharmonic has been influential in the course of musical history.

This free concert in the park for the music lovers of Vienna and viewers throughout the world is just one of the ways the orchestra continues to broaden the reach of classical music.

Each year, they perform approximately 40 concerts in Vienna and another 50 on tours internationally.

This is on top of the musicians' duties in the pit at the Vienna State Opera, as well as the orchestra's annual summer residency at the Salzburg Festival.

All of these activities underscore the reputation of the Vienna Philharmonic as one of the world's finest orchestras.

[ Applause continues ] In a moment, Bryn Terfel will return, but not with an aria.

A lifelong fan of musical theater, he's both recorded albums of show tunes and triumphed on stage in performances of "Sweeney Todd" and "Fiddler on the Roof."

[ Applause continues ] -Oh!

[ Speaking in German ] You see, when it's quiet out there, you say to yourself, "Let's see what kind of mischief I can play on my friend Tevye!"

[ Chuckles, sighs ] Dear God... you made many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many rich people.

I realize, of course, it's no shame to be poor, but it's no great honor, either.

So what would have been so terrible ...if I had a small fortune?

If I were a rich man Ya ba digga digga digga digga digga digga dum All day long, I'd biddy biddy bum If I were a wealthy man, I wouldn't have to work hard Ya ba digga digga digga digga digga digga dum If I were a biddy biddy rich yidle-diddle-didle-didle man I'd build a big, tall house with rooms by the dozen Right in the middle of Schoenbrunn A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below There would be one long staircase just going up And one even longer coming down And one more leading nowhere just for show I'd fill my yard with chicks and turkeys And geese and ducks For the town to see and hear Squawking just as noisily as they can Oh, and each loud [ Imitating animal sounds ] Would land like a trumpet on the ear As if to say, "Here lives a wealthy man" Bah!

If I were a rich man Ya ba digga digga digga digga digga digga dum [ Chuckles ] All day long, I'd biddy biddy bum If I were a wealthy man, I wouldn't have to work hard Ya ba digga digga digga digga digga digga dum If I were a biddy biddy rich yidle-diddle-didle-didle man I see my wife, my Golde, looking like a rich man's wife With a proper double chin Supervising meals to her heart's delight I see her putting on airs and strutting like a peacock Oy, what a happy mood she's in Screaming at the servants day and night The most important men in town will come to fawn on me They will ask me to advise them Like a Solomon the Wise "If you please, Reb Tevye" "Pardon me, Reb Tevye" Posing problems that would cross a rabbi's eyes Ya boy boy Ya boy boy Boy boy And it won't make one bit of difference If I answer right or wrong When you're rich, they think you really know If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack To sit in the synagogue and pray And maybe have a seat by the Eastern Wall And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men Seven hours every day This would be the sweetest thing of all Ah If I were a rich man Ya ba digga digga digga digga digga digga dum All day long, I'd biddy biddy bum If I were a wealthy man, I wouldn't have to work hard Ya ba digga digga digga digga digga digga dum Lord, who made the lion and the lamb You decreed I should be what I am Would it spoil some vast eternal plan If I were A wealthy Man?

[ Indistinct ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Bryn Terfel and Tevye's song from "Fiddler on the Roof" brings the concert to a close.

The beloved Welsh baritone heads this fall for an extended tour to Australia and the Pacific for concerts and recitals.

Conductor Lorenzo Viotti made his debut this spring with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and is in Vienna this summer at the State Opera, directing Puccini's "Il Trittico."

This fall, he's in Tokyo for concerts, followed by a stint conducting "Elektra" in Zurich.

But now it looks like we have an encore.

[ "Tico-Tico no fub" playing ] [ Applause ] The crowd explodes with applause for the exuberant "Tico-Tico," but now the time has come for a waltz -- the one which closes the Summer Night Concert every year.

It's the first piece by Johann Strauss that the orchestra ever played.

The composer conducted the premiere more than 150 years ago.

Then, as now, it celebrates the indomitable spirit of the Viennese.

Lorenzo Viotti and the Vienna Philharmonic bid farewell with "Wiener Blut" by Johann Strauss.

[ "Wiener Blut" playing ] To find out more about this and other "Great Performances" programs, visit pbs.org/greatperformances and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

[ Cheers and applause ] Major funding for "Great Performances" is provided by... the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, supporting the arts and education, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, the Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold, the S. Irving and Anne Nevard Sherr Foundation, the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, the Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, the Starr Foundation, Madeline and Stephen Anbinder, Leni and Peter May, Ellen and James S.

Marcus, and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

Funding for this program is also provided by...