Gewandhausorchester, Susanna Mälkki: Saariaho, Reinecke, Brahms at Gewandhaus
About the Event
In Leipzig's beloved Gewandhaus, hear the Gewandhaus Orchestra and flutist Katalin Stefula under the baton of Susanna Mälkki for a captivating performance of works by Saariaho, Reinecke and Brahms.
Reinecke had 'sincere admiration' for Brahms, premiered the German Requiem, won Leipzig the premiere of the Violin Concerto, invited Brahms as pianist and played four hands with him. Ten times he let the composer use the Gewandhaus podium to conduct his own works — for example, the premiere of the 2nd Symphony in 1878. Brahms returned the favor rudely with condescending remarks that momentously cemented the cliché of the visionary artist and the ossified‐conservative Kapellmeister. At least in one respect Reinecke was the more modern: while women composers had no place in Brahms's old‐fashioned role model, as a conservatory professor he promoted female musicians to the best of his ability.
The sound mysticism of the Finnish composer Saariaho, who opens up the associative space of the evening with 'Light and Gravity,' magically prepares the way for Reinecke's 100‐year older, nostalgic‐romantic flute concerto.
Practical Information
Due to its history, the Gewandhaus Orchestra stands for civic engagement in a special way. With a view to the challenges of the present and the community‐building, inspiring and transformative potential of music, it has launched a democracy initiative in 2022. On pressing issues of justice, resources, media, institutions, education, identity, resilience and faith, public and cultural figures engage in dialogue with each other, with the audience and with musical performances.
'Resonance' is the motto above the musically inspired, culturally initiated discussion of basic values, understanding of democracy and social togetherness. We invite you to join in the discussion at round tables and to experimentally explore and musically experience political, sociological, acoustic and interpersonal facets of resonance in workshops and performances. Inspired by musical artworks, we open spaces for voices of the present and for ideas that strengthen the common good — in exchange between all those who want to help shape society.
