Beethoven | Deutsche Welle Folgen

'Music for 18 Musicians' exerts a subliminal, irresistible pull. The work by the legendary American composer Steve Reich was performed in Bonn by the composer himself in tandem with the Ensemble Modern.Steve Reich Music for 18 Musicians Steve Reich, piano Synergy Vocals Ensemble Modern MP3 recorded in the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany on September 21, 2011 by Deutsche Welle (DW) Steve Reich's performance in Bonn was during the Beethovenfest 2011, so it was only natural to ask him whether Beethoven has influenced him in his creative development. The answer was surprising: "Basically I have learned the most from medieval music and from Bartok and Stravinsky, as well as from John Coltrane, the jazz musician. Much more than from Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and all of the other composers of that era put together. The entire classic and Romantic period is filled with geniuses that I don't listen to and from whom I've learned absolutely nothing." This concert includes a modern classic: "Music for 18 Musicians," composed in 1976. Lasting about an hour, the work is written for clarinets, bass clarinets, women's voices, pianos, vibraphone, marimbas and xylophones. The goal is simply "to make beautiful music," said the composer. This is music of our time - but it is also connected to a particular place? "Beethoven, who was born here in Bonn, carries his time and place. I was born and raised in New York City, and you can hear that in my speech and in the rhythmic energy of my music. But inside of me is New York City, whether I like it or not and no matter where I am. The more composers give honest testimony to their own time and place, the more we tend to love them," Reich commented. Author: Rick Fulker Editor: Greg Wiser

The fourth and last movement of Gustav Mahler's Titan Symphony shuttles the listener off to a universe that encapsulates passion, majesty, epic and delicacy.Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 1 in D Major (Titan): 4th movement: Stormily agitated. Energetic Budapest Festival Orchestra Conductor: Ivan Fischer MP3 recorded by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) on September 17, 2011 in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn What would the result be of assembling the best musicians from the Liszt Conservatory into one orchestra? The answer is the Budapest Festival Orchestra, founded twenty-eight years ago by conductor Ivan Fischer. When 18th century British musicologist Charles Burney heard the Mannheim Orchestra, probably the best of its time, he called it an “army of generals”. These Hungarian virtuosos constitute a similarly powerful musical force of our time. As there is no successful army without intelligent strategy, Ivan Fischer planned his Mahlerian campaign carefully, focusing on the musical contrasts.  The last movement of the "Titan" Symphony summarizes a small universe which encapsulates passion, majesty, epic and delicacy. It was conceived initially as a tone poem. The program notes of the fourth movement read: “from hell to paradise, expression of a deeply wounded soul”. There is certainly much painful drama but also light and hope in this music. In his childhood, Mahler enjoyed watching band concerts, parades and Jewish popular music. His use of wind instruments is colored by these experiences. We can hear this in the brilliance of the brass fanfares and in the sarcastic - sometimes cutting - lines of the woodwinds. During his formative years Mahler also assimilated Austro-German “high” musical culture, as revealed in the long, thick legato melodies of warm intensity in the strings. With their rendition of the Titan Symphony as a sound fresco of intense, cathartic power, Ivan Fischer and his orchestra generated standing ovations. Author: Maria Santacecilia Editor: Rick Fulker

'I wanted to combine the Beethoven cycle with a modern piece and asked Richard Dubugnon to write a new sonata for me,' violinist Julian Rachlin said. This marks the German premiere of the piece, titled 'Violiana.'Richard Dubugnon Violiana for violin, viola and piano Julian Rachlin, violin and viola Itamar Golan, piano MP3 recorded by Deutsche Welle (DW) in the chamber music hall of the Beethoven House, Bonn, on September 19, 2011 Swiss composer Richard Dubugnon was born in 1968 in Lausanne and studied in Paris and London. He became famous internationally through pieces commissioned by Radio France and by conductors Kurt Masur and Paavo Järvi. Alongside his orchestral works, his main interest is in colorful and refined chamber music. Violinist Julian Rachlin has never made a secret of his love for the viola. So when Rachlin asked Dubugnon to compose a work for strings for him, it was clear that he'd be switching between both instruments in the piece. In a sense, Dubugnon's "Violiana" is not modern music but digs into the past, echoing the classical tradition. "I like Richard Dubugnon's work," said Julian Rachlin. "I thought that it would be a wonderful counterpoint to the cycle of Beethoven sonatas. I have a lot of respect for his work and that's why I'm very happy that he wrote a piece for Itamar and me." Author: Marita Berg / gsw Editor: Rick Fulker