Share

»What comes from the heart goes back to the heart. This is the true theory of music, sought by all true lovers and connoisseurs at all times, and will be sought until the end of the world.« Thus it is written in the »Basic rules of tonal order« from 1755 – and our concert leads us right into the 18th century. For the first time, we welcome Bernard Labadie to the conductor’s podium – one of the world’s leading specialists in the music of that period, loved by audiences and the press for his moving interpretations. The Canadian artist’s chosen programme includes enchanting works: Mozart’s Funeral Music, composed in 1785 to mark the deaths of two Masonic brothers. The »Jupiter« Symphony fascinates with a whole range of emotions as well as the grandiose finale – and was quickly celebrated as the »highest triumph of instrumental composition«. With William Youn as soloist, we play Beethoven’s highly popular first piano concerto from 1795/96, a refreshing piece with festive glamour, passionate lyricism and an high-spirited dance gesture at the end. But rarely heard repertoire is also on the programme this week: one of the rediscovered works by the German-Bohemian composer Antonio Rosetti, who was born 275 years ago. Nils Mönkemeyer has discovered the brilliant viola concerto – a rhythmically captivating and melodically catchy piece. We are looking forward to Bernard Labadie’s individual interpretation, as he is known for his great musical flair, his enjoyment of the works, his energetic conducting and his attention to detail.

»What comes from the heart goes back to the heart. This is the true theory of music, sought by all true lovers and connoisseurs at all times, and will be sought until the end of the world.« Thus it is written in the »Basic rules of tonal order« from 1755 – and our concert leads us right into the 18th century. For the first time, we welcome Bernard Labadie to the conductor’s podium – one of the world’s leading specialists in the music of that period, loved by audiences and the press for his moving interpretations. The Canadian artist’s chosen programme includes enchanting works: Mozart’s Funeral Music, composed in 1785 to mark the deaths of two Masonic brothers. The »Jupiter« Symphony fascinates with a whole range of emotions as well as the grandiose finale – and was quickly celebrated as the »highest triumph of instrumental composition«. With William Youn as soloist, we play Beethoven’s highly popular first piano concerto from 1795/96, a refreshing piece with festive glamour, passionate lyricism and an high-spirited dance gesture at the end. But rarely heard repertoire is also on the programme this week: one of the rediscovered works by the German-Bohemian composer Antonio Rosetti, who was born 275 years ago. Nils Mönkemeyer has discovered the brilliant viola concerto – a rhythmically captivating and melodically catchy piece. We are looking forward to Bernard Labadie’s individual interpretation, as he is known for his great musical flair, his enjoyment of the works, his energetic conducting and his attention to detail.

Even if you have never played Tetris, you will most likely be familiar with the Russian folk song »Korobeiniki«, that served as soundtrack for the first video game with cult status and is indelibly linked to it. And since the success of such epic games as »Fortnite«, »Resident Evil« and »Horizon« at the very latest, it has become clear that video game music transcends the framework for which it was created. Like the soundtrack to famous films, the characteristic melodies are often familiar even to those who have never played the respective game. Under the baton of Eímear Noone, the Bamberg Symphony is now taking the video game scores from well-known titles to the Bamberg concert stage. The Irish composer and conductor has touched over 100 million people worldwide with her music for the online role-playing game »World of Warcraft«. She not only won the Hollywood Music in Media Award with her compositions, but also received five nominations for the Annual Game Music Awards 2014. Together with singer Aisling McGlynn, the orchestra will take the audience into strange new worlds, fusing the sound of a classical symphony orchestra with the sound of electric guitar, bass and drums. A journey through magical forests, post-apocalyptic civilisations and treacherous labyrinths – not only video game lovers will get their money’s worth on this special concert evening.

There was great uncertainty among composers: what could one still contribute to the symphony genre after Beethoven's Ninth? The self-doubting Brahms in particular struggled with this: "I will never compose a symphony! You have no idea how we feel when we always hear such a giant marching behind us," he wrote. How fortunate that Brahms ultimately gave the music world four magnificent symphonies, which we would like to present to our audience in an exclusive Brahms cycle spanning two years. We begin with the First, a dense work with numerous inner references, the initial draft of which culminated in the composition of the First Piano Concerto, which will also be performed this evening. How fitting that these two works - performed by Jan Lisiecki and the renowned Bamberg Symphony Orchestra under Jakub Hrůša - open our Brahms cycle.

Johannes Brahms and the symphony genre – what was a long and difficult chapter for the composer has proven to be a great gift for musical posterity. His four symphonies, paired with other Brahms works, will be performed in a Brahms cycle at the Rheingau Music Festival over the next two years. The Fourth marks the final and climax of his symphonic output; he would subsequently compose only one more orchestral work: the Double Concerto – a "work of reconciliation" for his estranged friends Brahms and Joseph Joachim. The Bamberg Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jakub Hrůša, along with our featured artist Renaud Capuçon on violin and Julia Hagen on cello, are ideally suited to interpret these masterpieces.

Apart from further performances at summer festivals, which only publish their programmes at a later date, our orchestra is a regular guest at the Kissinger Sommer. At the end of the season, we will be travelling on to Ottobeuren with our Honorary Conductor Manfred Honeck. The concerts in the basilica, a marvel of baroque sacred architecture, are always a celebration and are traditionally concluded with the ringing of bells. »I have taken this orchestra to my heart from the very beginning – I love it!« Manfred Honeck said this shortly after announcing that he would be our new Honorary Conductor. The chemistry between him and us is perfect. The programme includes two compositions that are in our orchestra’s core repertoire. In addition to Schubert’s »Unfinished«, the programme also features Brahms, who wasn’t able to finish a symphony until he was 43: a highly romantic masterpiece from the opening fateful conflict to the passionate overcoming in the finale – and including a melody that Brahms picked up in the Alps and embedded as a love greeting to Clara Schumann.