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Tango Suite for 2 Guitars (1984) by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) consists of three movements: Allegro, libero; Andante rubato, melancolico; and Allegro.
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Tango Suite for 2 Guitars (1984) by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) consists of three movements: Allegro, libero; Andante rubato, melancolico; and Allegro.
The Philharmonic Octet is characterised by polyphonic dialogue between its individual voices; at the same time, the ensemble represents the distinctive sound of the Berliner Philharmoniker in micro format. The main work of this programme is Beethoven’s early Septet in E flat major – a work which would become one of the composer’s most popular during his lifetime. This music is rapturous and vivid, with moments of profound emotion. Beethoven wrote his First Symphony immediately afterwards, and his mature style is already evident. Also on the programme are Wolfgang Rihm’s Sextet for clarinet, horn and string quartet and arrangements of Schubert's Moments musicaux.
Alexander Lonquich is famous not only for his nuanced sound, but also for his original programming. For this programme, he has chosen a wide range of colourful discoveries that convey maximum expressivity in short movements. Alongside Bruckner’s delicate Erinnerung, there are two ebullient piano sonatas by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and these are offset by alternatingly powerful and melancholic works by composer in residence Wolfgang Rihm, who died in July. Little-known Novellettes by Robert Schumann, a master of the expressive piano miniature, also punctuate the evening.
Eduard Mörike's first poetry collection, published in 1838, drew the attention of composers like Schumann, Brahms, and Franz. Though they set few of his poems to music, their choices, including "Er ist's" and "An eine Äolsharfe," reflect their esteem for his lyrical quality. Even Wolfgang Rihm used Mörike's poetry in his 2009 "Zwei kleine Lieder."
When Simone Young conducts Bruckner, she prefers to perform the original versions of his symphonies: “Perhaps they are not as perfect as the later versions,” she explains. “But they have a modernity that the later ones lack.” In this concert, she presents the original version of the Second Symphony from 1872, and combines it with Wolfgang Rihm’s one-act opera Das Gehege. This dark and enigmatic piece depicts a woman who, on the eve of German reunification, frees an eagle from captivity, tries to seduce it, and ultimately kills it.
When Simone Young conducts Bruckner, she prefers to perform the original versions of his symphonies: “Perhaps they are not as perfect as the later versions,” she explains. “But they have a modernity that the later ones lack.” In this concert, she presents the original version of the Second Symphony from 1872, and combines it with Wolfgang Rihm’s one-act opera Das Gehege. This dark and enigmatic piece depicts a woman who, on the eve of German reunification, frees an eagle from captivity, tries to seduce it, and ultimately kills it.
When Simone Young conducts Bruckner, she prefers to perform the original versions of his symphonies: “Perhaps they are not as perfect as the later versions,” she explains. “But they have a modernity that the later ones lack.” In this concert, she presents the original version of the Second Symphony from 1872, and combines it with Wolfgang Rihm’s one-act opera Das Gehege. This dark and enigmatic piece depicts a woman who, on the eve of German reunification, frees an eagle from captivity, tries to seduce it, and ultimately kills it.
The String Quintet in F major is the only major chamber music work by Anton Bruckner, whose 200th birthday will be celebrated in 2024. The Philharmonic String Quartet and Amihai Grosz, principal violist of the Berliner Philharmoniker, present the piece in this concert. The evening will open with Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Second String Quartet, which has a distinctive Viennese lilt. A constant in this season’s Philharmonic Chamber Music concerts is the music of our composer in residence Wolfgang Rihm. Here you can hear his dark, finely-spun Grave, written in memory of violist Thomas Kakuska.
The Leonkoro Quartet has enjoyed a meteoric rise to success. Founded in 2019, the ensemble is already at home on international concert stages, making its celebrated Philharmonie debut in February 2024. “The Leonkoro Quartet’s risk-conscious power of intensity is legendary. Its virtuosity is unbelievably natural,” wrote the Tagesspiegel afterwards. The young musicians return this season – with an energetic string quartet by our composer in residence Wolfgang Rihm, who died in July of this year, a wonderfully melodic opus by Felix Mendelssohn, and a key work from Beethoven’ s late oeuvre.
The music world owes a great debt of gratitude to clarinettist Anton Stadler. After all, he inspired Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to write a clarinet quintet which, with its yearning melodies, is one of the most beautiful works of chamber music. In turn, our Composer in Residence Wolfgang Rihm, who died in July , wrote his Four Studies for a clarinet quintet for the clarinettist and composer Jörg Widmann. According to Widmann, Rihm “understood and sensed the essence of our marvellous instrument like very few others”. Andraž Golob, bass clarinettist with the Berliner Philharmoniker since 2021, will present the two works together with colleagues.
Riccardo Chailly repeatedly displays a magic touch for the standard repertoire with the Filarmonica della Scala – and successfully enriches it with his sharp ear for new discoveries from the inexhaustible repository of musical history and the musical present. At Musikfest, he brings Luciano Berio and Wolfgang Rihm together with Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé.