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At the start of the Boulez Year, the Wizemann in Stuttgart will host a unique concert workshop. Conductor Oscar Jockel will introduce Boulez's "Polyphonie X," explaining it with excerpts played by the SWR Symphony Orchestra. This piece, a bridge between Boulez's early and later styles, caused a scandal at its 1951 premiere. The concert also includes Webern's arrangement of Bach's "Fuga Ricerata" and Webern's Symphony Op. 21, both relevant to Boulez's work, and concludes with a second performance of "Polyphonie X."
A concert workshop in Freiburg's E-Werk will feature conductor Oscar Jockel explaining Pierre Boulez's "Polyphonie X" with the SWR Symphony Orchestra. This piece, a scandal at its 1951 premiere, connects Boulez's early and later styles. Following the analysis and full performance, the concert includes Webern's arrangement of Bach's "Fuga Ricerata" and Webern's Symphony Op. 21, highlighting polyphony and musical development, both crucial to Boulez's work. A second performance of "Polyphonie X" concludes the evening.
The program features works by Anatoly Lyadov ("The Enchanted Lake"), Sergei Rachmaninoff (Piano Concerto No. 3), and Sergei Prokofiev (Symphony No. 3). Performers include Leif Ove Andsnes on piano, the SWR Symphony Orchestra, and conductor Juraj Valčuha. A pre-concert introduction starts at 6 PM.
Anton Bruckner was extremely critical of his compositions throughout his lifetime – with just a few exceptions: he described his Sixth Symphony as his »boldest« and the »Te Deum« as the »pride of his life«. It is absolutely fitting, then, that the world-renowned conductor Pablo Heras-Casado should be congratulating the composer on his 200th birthday with this programme performed by a large orchestra! The »Te Deum« is a mighty creation in praise of God, with an orchestra performing alongside an organ, choir and four vocal soloists. They include the sought-after soprano Christina Landshamer and the bass Franz-Josef Selig, who recently impressed Hamburg audiences in Wagner’s »Flying Dutchman« at the State Opera. Bruckner most likely wanted to impress even divine powers with the five-part work but, that aside, has certainly been inspiring audiences down here on earth ever since the premiere. We can only guess as to what exactly Bruckner found so bold about his Sixth Symphony, but there are many possible reasons: the succinct rhythm right at the start, the energy of which is perpetuated throughout the entire first movement. Or perhaps it alludes to the third movement, which swings back and forth between spooky sequences and blaring brass. Viewed as a whole, the symphonies are among Bruckner’s most »secular« works, making them the perfect counterpart to the Te Deum.
Benjamin Britten was a passionate pacifist. With his »War Requiem« of 1961, he composed his most impressive and moving confessional work in 1961, which is considered one of the central works of the 20th century against war and in favour of peace. With this key work, Teodor Currentzis delivers the musical epilogue for the Hamburg International Music Festival and closes the programmatic arc of the motto »War and Peace«. The star conductor comes to Hamburg once again in his role as chief conductor of the SWR Symphony Orchestra and has engaged baritone Matthias Goerne, among others, for the hugely scored »War Requiem« alongside his orchestra and three formidable choirs. Britten wrote his »War Requiem« to commemorate the devastating air raid on Coventry in 1940 and for the consecration of the rebuilt cathedral in the city. The composer himself conducted the acclaimed 1962 premiere of this monumental composition for orchestra, choirs, three solo singers and organ. The soloists back then included Goerne’s teacher Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. However, Britten’s »War Requiem« is not simply a protest against all forms of inhumanity and the wars of the 20th century. His requiem mass, which ends with a prayer for eternal peace, has lost none of its power or relevance.
