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Honorary conductor Herbert Blomstedt conducts Bruckner

Date & Time
Thu, May 16, 2024, 18:00
It was an ongoing issue for Bruckner to overcome the torment of his soul: the introverted loner suffered because no woman ever wanted to have anything »serious« to do with him – and he was also humiliated by the constant critique of his works. Therefore, his symphonies seem for large parts like epiphanies of a man struggling with himself. Herbert Blomstedt says that they represent »the longing for the eternal« and that Bruckner »takes listeners into a world« that »they... Read full text

Keywords: Symphony Concert

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Musicians

Herbert BlomstedtConductor

Program

Symphonie Nr. 8 c-MollAnton Bruckner
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Last update: Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 12:39

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Honorary conductor Herbert Blomstedt conducts Bruckner

Fri, May 17, 2024, 20:00
Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)
Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor)
It was an ongoing issue for Bruckner to overcome the torment of his soul: the introverted loner suffered because no woman ever wanted to have anything »serious« to do with him – and he was also humiliated by the constant critique of his works. Therefore, his symphonies seem for large parts like epiphanies of a man struggling with himself. Herbert Blomstedt says that they represent »the longing for the eternal« and that Bruckner »takes listeners into a world« that »they otherwise might never reach«: »It is the world of his very own imagination. This is where you meet his soul. And he discovered this world through music, not through religion. He believed in the fugue, in the hymn, in the symphonic way of expressing himself. He overcame his life crises with this confession.« Our honorary conductor guides us through Bruckner‘s deep eighth symphony, which he began right after the tremendous success of his seventh contribution to the genre. The painstakingly gained self-confidence, however, once again collapsed like a house of cards. In 1885, the now sixty-something bachelor hoped to have finally found happiness in love – but his luck ran out again: His young beloved, whom he did not kiss but with whom he exchanged photographs, pulled away – and did not accept the dedication of the symphony. Then the conductor Hermann Levi declined to perform it and recommended a revision, which deeply offended Bruckner. The symphony was ultimately dedicated to Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria and performed for the first time in Vienna in 1892 – fortunately a triumph for Bruckner. This symphony, described by himself as a »mystery«, captivates with unbridled climaxes and dynamic contrasts – but also with intimate soul paintings such as the Adagio.
Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)
Artistic depiction of the event

Honorary conductor Herbert Blomstedt conducts Bruckner

Sat, May 18, 2024, 20:00
Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)
Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor)
It was an ongoing issue for Bruckner to overcome the torment of his soul: the introverted loner suffered because no woman ever wanted to have anything »serious« to do with him – and he was also humiliated by the constant critique of his works. Therefore, his symphonies seem for large parts like epiphanies of a man struggling with himself. Herbert Blomstedt says that they represent »the longing for the eternal« and that Bruckner »takes listeners into a world« that »they otherwise might never reach«: »It is the world of his very own imagination. This is where you meet his soul. And he discovered this world through music, not through religion. He believed in the fugue, in the hymn, in the symphonic way of expressing himself. He overcame his life crises with this confession.« Our honorary conductor guides us through Bruckner‘s deep eighth symphony, which he began right after the tremendous success of his seventh contribution to the genre. The painstakingly gained self-confidence, however, once again collapsed like a house of cards. In 1885, the now sixty-something bachelor hoped to have finally found happiness in love – but his luck ran out again: His young beloved, whom he did not kiss but with whom he exchanged photographs, pulled away – and did not accept the dedication of the symphony. Then the conductor Hermann Levi declined to perform it and recommended a revision, which deeply offended Bruckner. The symphony was ultimately dedicated to Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria and performed for the first time in Vienna in 1892 – fortunately a triumph for Bruckner. This symphony, described by himself as a »mystery«, captivates with unbridled climaxes and dynamic contrasts – but also with intimate soul paintings such as the Adagio.
Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)
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Our honorary conductor Herbert Blomstedt

Sat, Jun 17, 2023, 19:30
Regentenbau (Bad Kissingen)
Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor)
Vincent van Gogh was of the firm belief: "If you truly love nature, you will find everywhere beautiful." Mendelssohn went on several grand tours across Europe, often taking inspiration from natural events and painting numerous watercolours. In 1829, the Scottish landscape served as a musical inspiration for him – despite miserable weather conditions, as he wrote in a letter: “Together, the Scottish Highlands and the sea brew nothing but whiskey, fog, and bad weather." But Mendelssohn also visited Edinburgh and the "palace where Mary Queen of Scots lived and loved." His Third Symphony captures the atmosphere of Scotland magnificently, and with its allusions to the sound of bagpipes creates a music that is "reminiscent of a vanished time". In this concert, our orchestra will also present a stirring 1845 work that is a perfect match for Mendelssohn’s musical idiom: the Fourth Symphony by Franz Berwald – an exciting composer from the homeland of our honorary conductor Herbert Blomstedt, who is always keen to promote his Swedish compatriot. Berwald likewise travelled extensively throughout Europe, living in Vienna and Berlin for a time, but then returned to Sweden. Many of his charming pieces were written in the picturesque town of Nyköping – his wife once described the atmosphere there: "One day passes like another, without any variety other than that which God's beautiful nature presents to those whose hearts are receptive to impressions of this kind. Franz is busy composing throughout the day, and in the evening we regularly walk out into the surrounding countryside."
Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)
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Herbert Blomstedt conducts

Thu, Sep 12, 2024, 19:00
Konserthuset Stockholm, The Main Hall (Stockholm)
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor), Susanne Rydén (Presenter)
Herbert Blomstedt is Sweden's internationally most recognized conductor – ever. Among the orchestras he has worked with are the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Orchestre de Paris, and notably the San Francisco Symphony, where Blomstedt was chief conductor for ten years. Blomstedt has also conducted the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra on well over 200 occasions, and on the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2017, Konserthuset named its grand conductor's dressing room after him.As he makes another cherished visit to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, it is with two favorites, Franz Berwald and Brahms. Memories from the Norwegian mountains came to him after a visit to Norway, and Berwald described the Nordic-sounding music as orchestral tonal painting. The restlessly bustling Sinfonie capricieuse is surrounded by mystique, for shortly after Berwald's death, the score disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The music was later reconstructed by Nils Castegren based on Berwald's remaining sketches.Johannes Brahms's first symphony is undoubtedly a masterpiece. The symphony was crafted over many years, with Brahms at times almost paralyzed by the performance demands of his idol Beethoven. However, the end result is magnificent and shaped with precision, intense emotion, and great beauty.
Info (www.konserthuset.se)
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Herbert Blomstedt

Fri, Dec 6, 2024, 20:00
Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)
Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor)
»Anyone who preserves the ability to see beauty will never grow old.« These words by Franz Kafka are wonderfully fitting for our esteemed Honorary Conductor, who has been a legend on the podium for a long time. Whilst he is approaching the age of 100, he still has a passion for meticulous attention to detail. He also has a congenial way of passing his positive energy on to the audience with his music. When asked what his secret is, he answered: »The love of music. It’s like a fire that you can’t put out – it inspires me, it challenges me.« And he added very sympathetically: »I’m an ordinary old man, but when you’re in love at the same time, it releases unexpected power reserves.« Herbert Blomstedt is a master of the art of interpretation, and his deeply human and keen spirit is unmistakable. As a sovereign connoisseur of the work in question, he always gives them a very personal interpretation. His characteristic trademarks are small but precise gestures or caressing hand movements. Added to this comes the charisma of an artist who is completely at peace with himself, who no longer needs to prove himself to anyone and performs with unwavering joy. In his self-created programmes, he likes to focus on unknown repertoire from his Swedish homeland – but in keeping with the motto that »old love never dies«, he regularly returns to his musical favourites. And with the two symphonies by Beethoven and Brahms, he will once again endeavour to achieve exactly what he so desires in his role as conductor: »If I can move people’s hearts, then I am happy.«
Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)
Artistic depiction of the event

Herbert Blomstedt

Fri, Dec 6, 2024, 20:00
Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)
Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor)
»Anyone who preserves the ability to see beauty will never grow old.« These words by Franz Kafka are wonderfully fitting for our esteemed Honorary Conductor, who has been a legend on the podium for a long time. Whilst he is approaching the age of 100, he still has a passion for meticulous attention to detail. He also has a congenial way of passing his positive energy on to the audience with his music. When asked what his secret is, he answered: »The love of music. It’s like a fire that you can’t put out – it inspires me, it challenges me.« And he added very sympathetically: »I’m an ordinary old man, but when you’re in love at the same time, it releases unexpected power reserves.« Herbert Blomstedt is a master of the art of interpretation, and his deeply human and keen spirit is unmistakable. As a sovereign connoisseur of the work in question, he always gives them a very personal interpretation. His characteristic trademarks are small but precise gestures or caressing hand movements. Added to this comes the charisma of an artist who is completely at peace with himself, who no longer needs to prove himself to anyone and performs with unwavering joy. In his self-created programmes, he likes to focus on unknown repertoire from his Swedish homeland – but in keeping with the motto that »old love never dies«, he regularly returns to his musical favourites. And with the two symphonies by Beethoven and Brahms, he will once again endeavour to achieve exactly what he so desires in his role as conductor: »If I can move people’s hearts, then I am happy.«
Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)
Artistic depiction of the event

Herbert Blomstedt

Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 20:00
Herkulessaal (München)
Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor), Christina Landshamer (Soprano), Marie Henriette Reinhold (Soprano), Tilman Lichdi (Tenor), Bavarian Radio Chorus, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Among the many wonderful concerts this season, there is one that Sir Simon Rattle would particularly like to attend himself: Stravinsky and Mendelssohn, conducted by Herbert Blomstedt. The BRSO Chief Conductor has long admired Blomstedt (who has reached the impressive age of 97): “He’s like a splendid wine that only gets better with age,” says Rattle. “The last time I heard Lobgesang I was in my teens and still a mediocre timpani player. And although I couldn’t grasp its quality back then, I am convinced that Mr. Blomstedt will reveal the magnificence of this work – as he always does.” Hardly anyone conducts with such understanding and such humility. “He is such an inspiration!”
Info (www.brso.de)
Artistic depiction of the event

Herbert Blomstedt

Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 19:00
Herkulessaal (München)
Herbert Blomstedt (Conductor), Christina Landshamer (Soprano), Marie Henriette Reinhold (Soprano), Tilman Lichdi (Tenor), Bavarian Radio Chorus, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Among the many wonderful concerts this season, there is one that Sir Simon Rattle would particularly like to attend himself: Stravinsky and Mendelssohn, conducted by Herbert Blomstedt. The BRSO Chief Conductor has long admired Blomstedt (who has reached the impressive age of 97): “He’s like a splendid wine that only gets better with age,” says Rattle. “The last time I heard Lobgesang I was in my teens and still a mediocre timpani player. And although I couldn’t grasp its quality back then, I am convinced that Mr. Blomstedt will reveal the magnificence of this work – as he always does.” Hardly anyone conducts with such understanding and such humility. “He is such an inspiration!”
Info (www.brso.de)
Artistic depiction of the event

Our honorary conductor Christoph Eschenbach

Wed, Mar 13, 2024, 16:30
Konzerthalle Bamberg, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal (Bamberg)
Christoph Eschenbach (Conductor), Hanna-Elisabeth Müller (Soprano)
»And the soul, unguarded, wants to soar in free flights, to live within the magic circle of the night deeply and a thousandfold.« These dream-lorn lines by Hermann Hesse inspired Richard Strauss to write one of his moving »Four Last Songs«. These depict a life cycle and bear witness to his confrontation with his own death. At 83, the aged composer looked back on his triumphant life »weary of wandering«. When a journalist asked him about his next projects, Strauss answered with a wink: »Well, just die!« But his son persuaded him to compose another »major work«, saying, »Dad, stop brooding, write some beautiful songs instead.« And Strauss succeeded in a beguiling way, for the highly romantic settings hover in an inimitable atmosphere of weightlessness. With us, the voice of Hanna-Elisabeth Müller soars to these soulful songs. Christoph Eschenbach then leads us through a work by Bruckner that was first performed in 1873 and was composed as a direct expression of a deep life crisis due to the so-called »St. Anna affair«: as he was hardly noticed as a composer in Vienna at that time, he gave piano lessons at the St. Anna educational institution – and once confidentially called one of his pupils »my darling«. Even though Bruckner felt wrongly suspected, the newspapers made a scandal out of this event. He was soon rehabilitated, but wrote his second symphony in this humiliated state of mind – which therefore has a restless, pessimistic underlying mood: it fluctuates between heartfelt prayers, desperate outbursts, clueless silences and wild dance scenes.
Info (www.bamberger-symphoniker.de)