The Summer Night Concert 2013

Hot off the press comes a recording of the world's biggest classical concert, held in Vienna on 30 May. Classic FM Drive Featured Album, 1 July 2013.

The Summer Night Concert from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is an annual open-air event that takes place in the park of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. This year, it was held on 30th May and, as always, the entire city was invited - for free. 

A hardy audience braved cold, wet and rainy conditions to take up the invitation and the concert was also broadcast in more than 60 countries, making it the world's biggest classical concert. This year, Lorin Maazel, one of the world’s most sought-after conductors, was at the helm of the concert for the very first time. 

The programme marked the bi-centenary of the births of Wagner and Verdi with highlights from their operas, including the Ride of the Valkyries and the overture to La Forza del Destino. The Vienna Philharmonic, which is completely at home in the world of opera through its work as the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, and Lorin Maazel, himself a former director of the house, also accompanied tenor Michael Schade in two arias.