Organist

Über 650 Film-Soundtracks haben die Münchner Symphoniker eingespielt, darunter zu Klassikern wie „Das Boot“ oder „Das Schweigen der Lämmer“. Naheliegend also, die aktuelle Abo-Reihe Prinze Ÿ mit der Filmmusik zu Christopher Nolans Weltraum-Epos „Interstellar“ zu eröffnen. Damit ist auch gleich das von Chefdirigent Joseph Bastian konzipierte Thema des Konzerts vorgegeben: Musik und Technik. Die klangmächtige Symbiose eines Symphonieorchesters mit dem mechanischen Wunderwerk namens Orgel gelang 1886 Camille Saint-Saëns in seiner Orgelsymphonie. Da das Prinzregententheater über keine Orgel verfügt, kommt zeitgemäß ein digitales Modell zum Einsatz. Sergei Prokofjew wiederum schlägt den Bogen zurück zur audio-visuellen Schnittstelle. Nicht nur schrieb er selbst mehrere Film-Partituren, seine Symphonie Nr. 4 beruht auf einem früheren Ballett – und zeigt, dass hochklassige Musik auch sehr gut ohne Szenenbilder auskommt

Sternenweiss

Prinzregententheater

For their second consecutive night at the Proms, Jakub Hrůša and the Czech Philharmonic bring to life the blazing fanfares, raw outcries and hushed humility of Leoš Janáček’s unparalleled Glagolitic Mass. Inspiration for the work struck the composer in a misty wood. ‘Its moist scent was the incense,’ he wrote. ‘I felt a cathedral grow out of the giant expanse of woods ... Now I hear the voice of each arch-priest in the tenor solo, a maiden angel in the soprano – and in the choir I hear our people.’

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Prom 50: Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass

Royal Albert Hall

Prokofiev conceived his fiery Fifth as “a symphony of the greatness of the human spirit.” This dramatic work caps a program of brilliant colors and unusual instrumentation: Guillaume Connesson’s Concerto da Requiem, alternately macabre and ethereal, the perfect showcase for Verizon Hall’s incredible Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ; and Claude Debussy’s dreamy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, with harps and unusual string shadings conjuring images of nymphs frolicking in a glade.

Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Christian Schmitt is one of the rising stars in the world of the organ. Having performed in major concert halls from Los Angeles to Tokyo, he makes his debut in Liège with Mendelssohn's exuberant Fourth Sonata, one of Bach's greatest preludes and fugues, and the fiery Sonata by Julius Reubke (a disciple of Liszt), one of the most remarkable works in the romantic repertoire. In contrast, there is the neomedieval music of Arvo Pärt and a composition by the young German composer Maximilian Schnaus.

Christian Schmitt - Organ

Salle Philharmonique de Liège

Alongside his celebrated concerts in other cultural temples worldwide, Christian Schmitt has been our trusted »Principal Organist« for many years now. He is not the only one on the podium this afternoon, but together with musicians from the ranks of our orchestra, he creates magnificent sound effects – such as a work composed in 1976 referring to Marc Chagall: This painter-poet designed famous glass windows in iridescent colours in many places. The fascinating composition »Okna« by the Czech Petr Eben reflects his experiencing of Chagall‘s vitrage for the synagogue in Jerusalem. The piece is congenially encompassed by Bach's virtuoso music: the E-flat major prelude functions as an atmospheric overture, and the corresponding fugue follows as a masterful Baroque piece with three tightly interlocked themes. Trombone and organ then unite for the romantically-influenced »Morceau symphonique« by Alexandre Guilmant. The sparkling piece from 1902 captivates with its lyrical opening and its vibrant development with energetic, rocketing scales. Sofia Gubaidulina's 1978 sonata »Detto 1« is more spiritual – but the meditative lines also repeatedly produce heated cascades. Finally, the god of the seas symbolically makes his grand appearance: the impressive piece »Poseidon« was composed by the Swede Andrea Tarrodi in 2021. Everything here is in a state of flux with rising and falling sound masses.

Our principal organist Christian Schmitt

Bamberg Concert Hall

A regular performer on the global stage, the German virtuoso returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall to breathe life into its organ “Hurricane Mama” once again.

Christian Schmitt
Organ Recital

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Hill Auditorium’s Frieze Memorial Organ, named in honor of Henry Simmons Frieze, a professor of Latin and the founding president of UMS, is the focal point of the auditorium’s unique parabolic interior and one of the first great organs to rely on electrical connections from its keys. Frieze believed the shared experience of music was essential to a liberal education and to community life. Today, the organ is available to the University of Michigan students and faculty for teaching, practice, and performances to continue celebrating the beauty and diversity of the instrument.

UMS Live Session: Christian Schmitt, Organ

With invitations from the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Salzburg Festival and the Musikverein Vienna, ECHO award winner Christian Schmitt is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after concert organists of our time. Known for his virtuosic and charismatic playing, Christian is an “Artist in Focus” of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich as well as curator of the “International Organ Days.” Join us in welcoming him to the Meyerson!

Christian Schmitt | Gould Family Organ Recital Series

Meyerson Symphony Center

In 2020, conductor Dennis Russell Davies became chief conductor of the Brno Philharmonic, which was founded in 1956 and serves as a living tribute to Leoš Janáček’s music. Janáček was educated in Brno and spent most of his life there, and his extensive experience working with and composing for choirs was evident in his compositions.

Brno Philharmonic Performance

University of Michigan

After the Saalbau audience enthusiastically received the performances of Fazil Say's violin and clarinet concertos, this season we will hear a double concerto for the popular combination of trumpet and organ. The work, which premiered in 2022, was commissioned by the two soloists themselves and was created in close collaboration with the..

Guest Concert

Tourist, Congress and Saalbau GmbH

Graf-Zeppelin-Haus

There is life between ashes and dust, but which one? Before we become fluff in space, it would be good to create something that lasts forever. Maurice Ravel was very close to death his whole life. In his ballet music for "Daphnis and Chloé" he managed to revolutionize the sound of something that seems so natural, such as the sunrise...

Immortality

Mannheimer Rosengarten

Happy 85th birthday on 20 February 2025! We wish this to our Honorary Conductor, for whom one thing is for sure: »Music gives you youth, freshness and lots of new beginnings.« Christoph Eschenbach always leaves an impression with his unmistakable aura: he is not a podium matador by any means, but rather comes across at times like a Buddhist monk with his convincing gestures and penetrating eyes full of warm-heartedness. A conductor who prefers silence rather than many words – and one who sees himself as a »musician among musicians«. This results in captivating interpretations with a great sense of mutual understanding, including such works close to his heart as in this year’s programme: Christoph Eschenbach once said that Bruckner was one of his »greatest treasures«. He discovered his love for Bruckner’s music while listening to a radio programme as a boy. And it still fascinates him to this day, so he explores the fascination of Bruckner’s first work with us – this »cheeky little fellow«. It is truly a great blessing that we have been able to come together with such a charismatic artistic personality for such a long time. It is like a longstanding and very close love affair that is constantly being revitalised – also with Saint-Saëns’ »Organ Symphony«: this powerful piece was recorded with Christoph Eschenbach and our orchestra at the Bamberg Cathedral back in 1987 for an audio release. We have every reason to be excited about how the work will sound together with our house organist Christian Schmitt on the concert organ our audience loves so much – after all, our Honorary Conductor remains curious in his old age: »I want to still be conducting when I’m 100, because I might be able to discover even more at the age of 99 than I can at the moment.«

Christoph Eschenbach, Christian Schmitt

The stage is set for our favourite organist, who is also in great demand on the international scene: In the last organ concert of this season, Christian Schmitt will play our large concert hall organ – accompanied by our solo flutist Daniela Koch and our deputy solo violist Branko Kabadaić. The concert begins with a fascinating etude for organ pedal, which Christian Schmitt premièred in Zurich in 2023 – and about which the composer Maximilian Schnaus writes: »The musical idea illuminates the peripheral areas of the organ sound and the peripheral areas of our perception.« Liszt studied Bach’s organ works and passions intensively, particularly during his time in Weimar – and his affection for this Baroque master found intimate expression in the Andante »Aus tiefer Not«, written in 1859. Paul Hindemith wrote this touching funeral music on a concert tour in London on 21 January 1936 within a few hours after King George V had died there on the previous day. Bach’s masterful Sonata in G major captivates with its skilful interweaving of voices between the two instruments. For César Franck, it was clear: »Mon orgue? – C'est un orchestre!« And that is exactly how his magnificent musical creations sound – including the »Grande pièce symphonique«, completed in 1862, which even bears the required orchestral gesture in its title. Tōru Takemitsu, the cosmopolitan and influential composer from Japan, created an almost revolutionary work in 1971 with his flute piece »Voice« – because the human voice is included here in an interesting way. To wrap things up, the concertino by Cécile Chaminade, written in 1902, impresses with its breathtaking virtuosity, passionate gestures, shimmering harmonies and yearning melodies.

Christian Schmitt

Organist

Events

Upcoming events

Feb 13, 2025

Guest Concert · Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz

Feb 14, 2025

Guest Concert · Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz

Feb 16, 2025

Immortality · Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz

19 - 20 Feb, 2025

Christoph Eschenbach, Christian Schmitt · Bamberger Symphoniker

Mar 23, 2025

Organ concert: Schmitt Koch Kabadaić · Bamberger Symphoniker

Past events

Oct 10, 2024

Sternenweiss · Münchner Symphoniker

Aug 28, 2024

Prom 50: Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass · Royal Albert Hall

Future and recently performed repertoire

Organ in Flute Concertino by Chaminade

Bamberger Symphoniker

Organ in Symphony No. 3 by Saint-Saëns

Bamberger Symphoniker

Organ in Sonata for Viola da Gamba in G major by Bach

Bamberger Symphoniker

Organ in Suite for Orchestra: Interstellar by Zimmer

Münchner Symphoniker

Organ in Symphonie by Prokofjew

Münchner Symphoniker

Organ in The Twin Paradox by Haas

Münchner Symphoniker

Organ in Orgelsymphonie by Saint-Saëns

Münchner Symphoniker

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