The Order of Malta's CHARITY CHRISTMAS CONCERT with THOMAS HAMPSON

Tickets for The Order of Malta's CHARITY CHRISTMAS CONCERT with THOMAS HAMPSON.

CHRISTMAS CHARITY CONCERT OF THOMAS HAMPSON

One of the greatest operatic personalities of our time – Thomas Hampson, the legendary American baritone who has performed on the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera, and La Scala in Milan – is coming to Bratislava.

In the Advent season, we invite you to an extraordinary evening of music, beauty, and charity: a benefit concert supporting the restoration of the Church of the Order of Malta in Slovakia, located beneath Bratislava Castle. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the renewal of this historic and spiritually significant building.

This unique concert will take place in the atmospheric setting of St. Martin’s Cathedral, one of Bratislava’s most iconic landmarks.

In addition to Thomas Hampson, two of his musical friends will perform – tenor Giulio Putrino and pianist Elitsa Desseva. Together, they bring a program of beautiful operatic arias and Christmas songs that will create an unforgettable festive atmosphere.

PROGRAM

Thomas Hampson, baritone

Giulio Putrino, tenor

Elitsa Desseva, piano

W. A. Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro – "Hai già vinta la causa" – Thomas Hampson

G. Bizet: Carmen – "La fleur que tu m’avais jetée" – Giulio Putrino

G. Bizet: Les pêcheurs de perles – "Au fond du temple saint" – duet

J. Massenet: Hérodiade – "Vision Fugitive" – Thomas Hampson

G. Verdi: Luisa Miller – "O fede negar potessi, Quando le sere al placido" – Giulio Putrino

G. Verdi: Don Carlo – "Dio, che nell’alma infondere" – duet

G. Verdi: Don Carlo – "Per me giunto… io morrò" – Thomas Hampson

P. I. Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin – "Kuda, kuda" – Giulio Putrino

Piano Interlude – Elitsa Desseva

Panis angelicus – duet

A. Adam: O Holy Night – Giulio Putrino

I Wonder as I Wander – Thomas Hampson

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Giulio Putrino

The Christmas Song – duet

Encores ad libitum

THOMAS HAMPSON

For many years, American baritone Thomas Hampson has been considered one of the most innovative musicians of our time.

He has received countless international awards for his unique artistry and cultural leadership. His operatic repertoire includes more than 80 roles, and his discography features over 170 albums, with multiple nominations and wins of the GRAMMY Award, the Edison Award, and the Grand Prix du Disque.

Thomas Hampson has performed on the world’s most prestigious opera stages, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera, La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Opéra National de Paris.

This season, Hampson sings the title role in John Adams’ opera Nixon in China at the Opéra de Paris under Kent Nagano. He will return to this role later in the season in concert performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons at Boston Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Tanglewood Festival.

He will conclude the year 2025 with a star-studded Christmas Night Opera Gala at Carnegie Hall with conductor Francesco Lanzillotta.

Following a highly successful tour last season at venues such as Het Concertgebouw, Konzert Theater Coesfeld, and the Beethoven-Haus Bonn, Hampson returns to Europe for a second tour of Schubert’s Winterreise with accordionist Ksenija Sidorova, with performances at the Verbier Festival, Bergen Festival, Kings Place London, and the Tonhalle Zürich.

He continues his collaboration with pianist Wolfram Rieger, performing a program of Mahler songs on tour in China – at the Shenzhen Belt Road Festival, the Macau Festival, and the Changsha Concerto Hall; they will also perform Winterreise at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden.

Later in the season, Hampson appears at the Aspen Music Festival with an all-American program.

He is an Honorary Professor of Philosophy at Heidelberg University and an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music in London.

In addition to several honorary doctorates, he holds the title of Kammersänger of the Vienna State Opera and is a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of the French Republic, as well as an Honorary Artist of the Guangzhou Opera House.

In 2017, he received the Hugo Wolf Medal together with Wolfram Rieger.

He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Lied Academy Heidelberg, and in 2003 founded the Hampsong Foundation, which promotes intercultural dialogue and understanding through the art of song. More: www.thomashampson.com

THE ORDER OF MALTA

The Sovereign Order of Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilization and has existed as a lay religious order of the Catholic Church since 1113.

Today, as a subject of international law, the Sovereign Order of Malta maintains diplomatic relations with more than 100 states and the European Union and holds permanent observer status at the United Nations. The Order is neutral, impartial, and apolitical.

The Order of Malta is active in 120 countries, caring for those in need through medical, social, and humanitarian work.

Its wide range of social projects provides daily support to forgotten and marginalized members of society.

In developing countries and regions affected by armed conflict or natural disasters, the Order focuses particularly on providing medical care, supporting refugees, and distributing essential supplies.

In Slovakia, the work of the Order of Malta is carried out by the Embassy of the Order of Malta to the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Association of the Order of Malta, whose relief organization – Malteser Aid Slovakia – is dedicated to serving those who suffer and upholding the faith.

Its activities include elderly care (such as delivering hot meals to more than 140 households daily), education and social support for marginalized communities (e.g., the Roma community in Topoľčany), and assistance to the homeless (regular distribution of food and clothing).

Maltese Aid Slovakia was among the first organizations to provide help to refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine at the Vyšné Nemecké border crossing. More: www.orderofmalta.sk