Apart from Abbado, other exceptional artists are set to include the orchestras of Philadelphia (conducted by Christoph Eschenbach), Cleveland (with Frans Welser-Möst), the Vienna Philharmonic (with Gruber and Nikolaus Harnoncourt) and the San Francisco Symphony (with Michael Tilson-Thomas).

In this year’s festival, Mozart is the most frequently performed composer, both in symphonic music and recitals, the latter presented by artists of the stature of Heinrich Schiff, Philippe Herreweghe’s Collegium Vocale of Gent, Mutter and David Stern’s Opera Fuoco. Particularly noteworthy is the presentation by Opera Fuoco on 12 September with the program "Mozart and Salieri: Memories of a Theatre Director", made up of Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor and Salieri’s Prima la Musica e poi le parole, featuring the sopranos Patricia Petibon, Lisa Larsson and Chen Reiss, Rainer Trost, tenor, Florian Boesch, baritone and Alan Ewing, bass.

Opera Fuoco was created by Stern in 2003. The group performs all kinds of vocal music and the key to its identity lies in its approach, which is always driven by innovation, a spirit of renewal and musical and dramatic intensity. Der Schauspieldirektor, K 486, and Prima la Musica e poi le parole are both one-act dramas with texts by, respectively, Gottlieb Stephanie and Giovanni Battista Casti, both works about creation and recreation, and the role of music and its performers.

Their styles are different although the interpretation is the same: the audience ultimately has the final word. Opera Fuoco is one of the most innovative groups in the field of opera and has presented projects based around works by Handel (Hercule, Semele, Jephtha), Telemann, Marcello, Porpora, Haydn, Mozart, Salieri, Cherubini (Médée), Schubert and Mendelssohn. They have performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Metz Opéra, Rouen Opéra, Paris Festival d’Art Sacré, Fondation Royaumont, among others. Their residence is based on the Théâtre de St Quentin in Yveline.

10 August-16 September