Culture

Funding series “Opera in concert”

The Wilo-Foundation, as a partner foundation, supported the “opera in concert series” at Konzerthaus Dortmund for a period of eight years, further enhancing the profile of the concert hall.

Europe

Germany

Dortmund

Funding period: 2012-2019

Since its foundation, the Konzerthaus Dortmund, more than almost every concert hall in Europe, focused in the period 2012 to 2020 on so-called “operas in concert”, thereby strengthening Dortmund’s reputation as a centre of the art of singing. Konzerthaus Dortmund has excellent acoustics, also and especially for vocal music, as well as outstanding production conditions. Both factors also played a pivotal role in this regard.

“Opera in concert” complements the portfolio, as a “bridge” between symphony concerts and dramatic interpretation. It brings together famous international singers, conductors and orchestras and moves the orchestra from the orchestra pit up onto the stage. Unlike scenic performances, operas in concert exclusively focus on the musical experience. The following operas were staged in Dortmund, conveying emotions through the expressive power of lyrics and singing:

Eine Sängerin sitzt auf einem Stuhl, ein Sänger steht hinter ihr bei der Oper "Written on skin", 2016 im Konzerthaus Dortmund — The concert opera "Written on Skin" by and with George Benjamin and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra on 12.03.2016 at the Konzerthaus Dortmund. Photo: Konzerthaus Dortmund GmbH, Credit: Pascal Amos Rest

Die Mozart Da-Ponte-Oper „Così fan tutte“ unter der Leitung von Teodor Currentzis auf der Bühne des Konzerthaus Dortmund — The Mozart Da Ponte opera "Così fan tutte" under the direction of Teodor Currentzis was performed on 13.11.2015 at the Konzerthaus Dortmund. Photo: Konzerthaus Dortmund GmbH, Credit: Pascal Amos Rest

Alban Berg (“Wozzeck”), Richard Wagner (“Parsifal”), Georg Friedich Händel (“Xerxes”), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Da-Ponte operas (“Cosi fan tutte”, “Le nozze di Figaro”, “Don Giovanni”), George Benjamin (“Into the little hill” and „Written on skin”), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (“La clemenza di Tito”), Giacomo Puccini (“La Bohème”), Gioachino Rossini (“Il barbiere di Siviglia”), Giuseppe Verdi („La Traviata”), Richard Strauss (“Elektra”), Igor Strawinsky (“The rake’s progress”), Johannes Brahms (choir concert “A German Requiem”)

As part of its first funding project at the Konzerthaus Dortmund, the Wilo-Foundation, over a period of eight years, supported the “opera in concert” series directed by Benedict Stampa, which further enhanced the profile of the concert hall and brought famous artists, e.g. Cecilia Bartoli, to Dortmund. A further initiative, using the connections with Dortmund as a city of science, the foundation also invited students from the Ruhr region and gave them free student tickets (called “opera credits”) for them to experience major opera productions and renowned conductors such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin or Teodor Currentzis.

Background:

To improve the cultural appeal of Dortmund within the region and beyond, the Wilo-Foundation has been a supporter and partner foundation of the renowned Konzerthaus Dortmund (Dortmund Concert Hall) since 2012. There is also a Wilo-Foundation lounge at the Konzerthaus which was opened in 2019. The funding programme includes outstanding musical events of the highest international standard, talent promotion and innovation. Cultural engagement in the city of Dortmund, where the international Wilo Group is headquartered, plays an important role for the Wilo-Foundation, as intended by its founder Dr.-Ing. h.c. Jochen Opländer.

Photo Header: Konzerthaus Dortmund GmbH, Credit: Pascal Amos Rest

Our funding partner

The Konzerthaus Dortmund opened its doors in September 2002 and since 2012 has belonged to the prestigious European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO), together with the leading concert halls of London, Paris, Barcelona, Budapest and Vienna. It is one of only four German venues to have achieved this honour, along with Baden-Baden, Cologne and Hamburg. In the 2018/2019 season, Dr Raphael von Hoensbroech took over as artistic director and managing director of the Konzerthaus Dortmund, succeeding Ulrich Andreas Vogt and Benedikt Stampa.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) forms the global framework for action for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. Our funding commitment also supports these sustainability goals. With this project, we are making a contribution to achieving the following SDGs:

What are the SDGs?