Queensland plays host to Prado masterpieces, and Hamburg Ballet, Philharmonic and State Opera

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Queensland plays host to Prado masterpieces, and Hamburg Ballet, Philharmonic and State Opera

Filed under: culture, entertainment, history, living, Lucire, society, travel, TV, Volante—Lucire staff/23.59

Dirk Messner

Top The Hamburg Ballet performs A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Above The Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

Brisbane has grown from strength to strength, ever since one of its mayors gave the city a fresh energy, involving the arts and youth in its progress. That energy has continued to fuel the city, and with it, Queensland state itself has become more confident in bringing it world-class acts and events.
This winter is no exception. Queensland Arts Minister Ros Bates says, ‘I am delighted that the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) is hosting Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado until November 2, and the Hamburg Ballet, the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamburg State Opera will début at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) as part of their first International Series from August 23.’
The Australia firsts are a great way for locals and holidaymakers to enjoy Brisbane’s offerings, especially its arts and cultural precinct.
‘The Queensland Art Gallery’s Portrait of Spain is the first collection of work from Madrid’s esteemed Museo Nacional del Prado to travel to the Southern Hemisphere and a magnificent survey of the development of painting in Spain over the course of four centuries with works by Titian, Rubens, Goya, Fortuny and Velazquez,’ says the Minister. ‘Portrait of Spain is the most significant international exhibition the Prado has ever undertaken and one of the most important exhibitions ever to be shown in Australia.’
Meanwhile, the ‘Hamburg Season’, where the Hamburg Ballet, the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamburg State Opera will visit Brisbane, marks the first time the three arts’ companies have appeared simultaneously in an Australian city.
‘We’re privileged to welcome the inspiring and world-famous leaders of these companies, legendary choreographer and Artistic Director of the Hamburg Ballet, John Neumeier and Simone Young, Australian-born chief conductor of the Hamburg Philharmonic and chief executive of the Hamburg State Opera,’ says Bates.
‘Neumeier will bring his unique choreography in the Hamburg Ballet’s presentation of Nijinsky and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Young will conduct the Hamburg Philharmonic in three concerts with the Hamburg State Opera including two concert performances of Das Rheingold, the opening opera in Richard Wagner’s greatest work, Der Ring des Nibelungen (known simply as The Ring) and one performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 Resurrection, a work said to be composed by Gustav Mahler during his years as First Conductor of the Hamburg Opera.’
For more information on tickets to the Hamburg Season or Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado, visit www.qtix.com.au.

Above The Hamburg Ballet performs A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Below The Hamburg Ballet performs Nijinsky.

Titian: Cristo con la Cruz a cuestas (Christ carrying the Cross), c. 1565. Collection: Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.

Francisco de Goya: El cacharrero (the pottery vendor), 1778. Collection: Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.

Peter Paul Rubens: Vulcano forjando los rayos de Júpiter (Vulcan forging the thunderbolts of Jupiter), 1636–7. Collection: Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.

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