At 5:55 p.m. on ORF 2
Vienna (OTS) – The latest edition of the ORF young talent series “Stars & Talents by Leona König” on Sunday, March 17th, 2024, at 5:55 p.m. on ORF 2 (Dacapo on March 21st, 11:10 a.m., ORF 2) brings soprano Ildikó Raimondi and the young Trumpeter Johannes Doppler, who was a finalist for the “Golden Note 2023”, together. To provide musical support for this special artistic encounter, presenter and producer Leona König – initiator of the classical music promotion award “Golden Note” and the TV format “Stars & Talents” as well as chairwoman of the International Music Association for the Promotion of Gifted Children (IMF) – has another one of hers Protégés invited: the Viennese pianist Ania Druml, who herself was a winner of the Golden Note 2017 and a finalist of the “Golden Note Special” 2020. In the venerable baroque palace Schönborn-Batthyány they study together one of the most beautiful ancient arias of the 18th century. Before the musical performance at the end of the show, Leona König focuses on both the star and the talent individually in a personal conversation – including the daring climbing action.
Ildikó Raimondi: “Formidable competition”
Star soprano Ildikó Raimondi, one of today’s most prominent operetta and opera singers and song interpreters, is a guest at “Stars & Talents”. The Austrian chamber singer, who was born as part of the Hungarian minority in Romania and is a long-time member of the Vienna State Opera, is herself committed to promoting young talent: In 2020, she initiated the support association “AMICITIA – Friends of Young Artists” and has been “with great joy” since 2015. Professor of solo singing at the Salzburg Mozarteum. She also founded the project “O-MIA, Operetta made in Austria” together with tenor Herbert Lippert, “because my heart particularly beats for operetta. These melodies have been very close to me since childhood and have accompanied my entire life. Operetta is a piece of European musical history and the Viennese operetta is a really great cultural asset,” she says in an interview with Leona König.
For the collaboration with the young trumpeter Johannes Doppler, the mother of two already grown sons chose “Caro Mio Ben”, the most famous 250-year-old title of the “Arie antiche” of the 18th century. Not an easy undertaking, as Ildikó Raimondi says: “The trumpet – a wonderful instrument, but not very popular with sopranos because it always wins. It’s getting louder and louder, a female voice can barely drown it out. So it’s really a huge competition!” But both star and talent are willing to compromise and want to rehearse the piece together and bring something together that doesn’t fit together at first glance. “So I think she has to sing a little louder and I have to play a little quieter,” Johannes Doppler already has a solution ready.
Don’t be afraid of falling: “Just stay relaxed”
But before the implementation begins, the now 16-year-old teenager visits a bouldering hall with Leona König. His passions include not only music, but also climbing, which he loves to do outdoors, as well as skiing, ski touring and cycling: “I think nature is very beautiful and when you can spend a little bit of energy outside,” he says the Salzburger from Anif. He started climbing with his father, but this time the “Stars & Talents” presenter has to keep up with this daring sport. Johannes isn’t really afraid of falling while climbing: “You slowly get used to it and prepare for it, so it’s not so bad,” he says coolly.
He definitely thinks the brass music is “really cool.” The scion of a musical family has been playing the trumpet since the first grade of primary school. Before that he learned the recorder and dulcimer, as well as the trombone and more recently the piano, as this is also needed for studying music. Johannes not only makes music with the family, but also plays in the village band Anthering, in a big band, in the school orchestra and as part of a trio. He also composes himself, so the folk music pieces on a family music CD that he has already produced were written by him. But Johannes is also no stranger to jazz and modern music. No matter what genre: “Just stay relaxed” is his motto, which he obviously always sticks to.
Back at the Schönborn-Batthyány Palace, the star and talent present the rehearsed piece and prove that what doesn’t fit together so easily at first glance, somehow belongs together. “This is now my favorite piece, but only in this version with trumpet and especially with Johannes,” says Ildikó Raimondi with a wink.