Marek Janowski

Marek Janowski

“All good music must have a sense of direction,” Marek Janowski once said. This is what he considers “the most important guiding principle for all composers.” The composer who posed the greatest challenge throughout Janowski’s life was Beethoven. The maestro initially navigates a classical terrain in Beethoven’s First Symphony, while Bruckner’s Third Symphony contains harmonic disturbances and jarring rhythms, as well as quotes from Wagner. In the opening, marked “Misterioso,” the distinctive trumpet theme emerges from the gently undulating strings. The work’s originality certainly comes to the fore in the finale, when a polka (played by the strings) is boldly layered over a chorale (played by the winds). This demands restrained ecstasy from the musicians of the BRSO – and the experienced Beethoven and Bruckner interpreter Janowski provides the best guidance.

Gewandhausorchester, Marek Janowski Dirigent

Gewandhausorchester, Marek Janowski Dirigent

GEISTREICH Der Name trügt: Die Geister dieser Ouvertüre sind nicht beherrschbar. Mit der Wucht des ganzen Orchesters braust der mächtige Teamgeist auf, Feuergeister entflammen Streicherfuror, aus der Flöte säuseln Feingeister, ein Schöngeist betört mit Oboentönen, dem Fagott entweichen Flattergeister, ein Waldgeist wohnt im Horn, der Berggeist droht mit Blech, und ein paar Kleingeister verführen mit Klarinetten-Charme. Carl Maria von Weber, der den Mächten des Orchesters gebietet wie kaum ein Zeitgenosse, animiert selbst in der Pauke einen schlummernden Poltergeist zum aufmüpfigen Solo. Er weiß, dass die 1811 als Relikt eines Rübezahl-Opernplans freigelassenen Geistwesen nicht wieder einzufangen sind, und preist sein Orchesterstück das kraftvollste und klarste was ich geschrieben habe. Wen diese Musik begeistert, den lässt ihr Melodienspuk tage- und nächtelang nicht mehr los. GEISTERGEGENWART 14 Jahre alt ist Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, als er 1823 in Berlin das Konzert für Klavier und Violine aus dem Ärmel schüttelt. Es gehört zu einer Fünfergruppe früher Geniestreiche, die Mendelssohn für sich, seine ebenso talentierte Schwester und enge Freunde wie den sieben Jahre älteren Geigenlehrer Eduard Rietz aufs Papier wirft. Mit ihm bestreitet Mendelssohn die erste Aufführung am 25. Mai 1823 im Rahmen einer privaten Sonntagsmusik und die öffentliche Premiere im Königlichen Schauspielhaus zu Berlin kurz darauf. Felix’ gespenstisch virtuoses Klavierspiel beschwört alle guten Geister des Barock und der Klassik herauf.

Marek Janowski and Augustin Hadelich

In Anton Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony, the Berliner Philharmoniker can explore the full spectrum of music-making, from intimacy in chamber music passages to its characteristically powerful tutti sound. Like Bruckner’s work, Mendelssohn’s violin concerto also emerged from the Romantic period – yet it inhabits a completely different sound world, filled with light and radiance. Conductor Marek Janowski is particularly highly regarded for his work in this repertoire. Augustin Hadelich, celebrated for his wonderfully lyrical sound at his debut three years ago, returns to the Berliner Philharmoniker as soloist.

Marek Janowski and Augustin Hadelich

In Anton Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony, the Berliner Philharmoniker can explore the full spectrum of music-making, from intimacy in chamber music passages to its characteristically powerful tutti sound. Like Bruckner’s work, Mendelssohn’s violin concerto also emerged from the Romantic period – yet it inhabits a completely different sound world, filled with light and radiance. Conductor Marek Janowski is particularly highly regarded for his work in this repertoire. Augustin Hadelich, celebrated for his wonderfully lyrical sound at his debut three years ago, returns to the Berliner Philharmoniker as soloist.

Marek Janowski and Augustin Hadelich

In Anton Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony, the Berliner Philharmoniker can explore the full spectrum of music-making, from intimacy in chamber music passages to its characteristically powerful tutti sound. Like Bruckner’s work, Mendelssohn’s violin concerto also emerged from the Romantic period – yet it inhabits a completely different sound world, filled with light and radiance. Conductor Marek Janowski is particularly highly regarded for his work in this repertoire. Augustin Hadelich, celebrated for his wonderfully lyrical sound at his debut three years ago, returns to the Berliner Philharmoniker as soloist.

NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Jean-Yves Thibaudet / Marek Janowski

A luminary of the German Romantic symphonic repertoire meets a master of elegant French piano playing: Marek Janowski returns to the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra to perform Robert Schumann’s Fourth Symphony and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5 with Jean-Yves Thibaudet as soloist.