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You are here: Home Leisure Arts & Culture The Klassical Junkie: Taking in the ‘Rust Belt’

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08/01/2010The Klassical Junkie: Taking in the ‘Rust Belt’

The Klassical Junkie: Taking in the ‘Rust Belt’ Expatica’s classical music reviewer, Sumi Somaskanda, previews the upcoming musical gems from the European Capital of Culture, Germany’s Ruhr region.

I’ve mentioned dozens of towns and cities in my travels through the landscape of German classical music but I haven’t yet paid homage to an area that is one of the country’s hidden gems: the Ruhr region. Sure, most people wouldn’t suggest visiting Germany’s Rust Belt but the Ruhr is a fascinating fusion of different peoples and cultures -- and it’s one of the largest urban regions in Europe with more than 5 million residents and 50 cities. That’s why the city of Essen and the surrounding Ruhr region were named the European Capital of Culture 2010.

The European Capital of Culture celebrations will include countless cultural projects, festivals and events throughout 2010, along with a very unique musical program. The Ruhr region will combine its musical forces to honor German composer Hans Werner Henze, an iconic figure in both the fields of contemporary classical music and 20th century political activism. “The Henze Project: New Music for a Metropolis” is Ruhr 2010’s year-long tribute to Henze’s contributions to music and society and his steadfast dedication to freedom and integrity. Composer Hans Werner HenzeHis works span opera, ballet, theater, orchestra and chamber music. Dozens of Ruhr presenters will perform works Henze’s repertoire and from other modern composers linked to the German composer. Their mission: to make contemporary music accessible for everyone. Here are a few highlights from the 2010 program:

-- The concert series kicks off on January 13 and 14 with concerts entitled “Facets of Romanticism.” The Duisburg Philharmonic takes the stage to perform the Adagio, Fugue and Mänadentanz from Henze’s opera, “The Bassarids.” It’s a uniquely constructed one-act opera (including an intermezzo) with four distinct parts that resemble the four movements of an orchestral symphony -- you might not even notice the fact that the theatrical component is missing in this performance!

The Philharmonic will also perform Mendelssohn’s 5th Symphony in D minor and accompany Isabelle Faust as she plays Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major.  


-- Henze put his own spin on virtually every traditional form of classical music -- including the string quartet. The Bermuda 4 quartet will contrast Henze’s contemporary take on chamber music, the String Quartet No. 1 (written in 1947), with Schubert’s Movement for a String Quartet in C minor and Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor. The ensemble is scheduled to take the stage a few more times to perform works by contemporary composers who Henze himself inspired, including David Lang and Jörg Widmann.

-- For a little taste of Cuba in Germany, head to Oberhausen on April 11. A small group of winds and percussion will perform Henze’s “El Cimarrón,” a title that translates as “Runaway Slave.” The composition, inspired from the time Henze lived in Cuba in the late 1960s, tells the story of a Cuban man who fought in the country’s war for independence. Henze calls the score a “recital for four musicians” because the piece has four performers: a baritone (the voice of El Cimarron), a guitarist, a flutist and a percussionist. It’s definitely not a conventional piece of music and yet guaranteed to entertain!

-- On June 9, the Dortmund Philharmonic performs Henze’s 9th Symphony, a choral symphony subtitled “Dedicated to the heroes and martyrs of German anti-fascism.” As the subtitle reveals, this piece is focused on the composer’s fatherland and its troubled history. Henze uses seven movements in this piece to weave together the story of a Nazi fugitive as he suffers and witnesses brutal crimes and eventually escapes in the final movement. It’s a chilling reminder of Henze’s own experiences, too -- he was forced join the Hitler Youth and to fight on the Nazi’s side in World War II.



-- Perhaps the most highly anticipated Henze performance this year is the world premiere of his latest opera Gisela, commissioned by both Ruhr 2010 and the Semperoper in Dresden. It’s written for young performers -- specifically for young actors, singers, mimes and children. After the smashing success of his Phaedra debut in 2007, Henze has kept the music world waiting for this musical tale that’s set in both Oberhausen and Nepal. I can guarantee the tickets for this September 25 concert in Gladbeck will sell out in no time, so I suggest you plan ahead and get to the box office soon!

The Duisburg Philharmonic
The Duisburg Philharmonic

For a more extensive look at all the Henze-inspired concerts in the Ruhr 2010 program, head to the website www.ruhr2010.de/henze-projekt. And be sure to take a little time to enjoy the Ruhr in 2010!
 
Sumi Somaskanda/Expatica


1 reaction to this article

shaodonglin posted: 2010-02-05 08:48:36

German newspapers
Note Mannheim, Germany January 4 U.S. military helicopter crashed in the Rhine region and the recent weather related disasters and earthquakes. Downstream from the Rhine (Netherlands) to the upstream (Switzerland including the Northern Italy), the recent air crash, and Spain, the UK earthquake in the Straits are in this sense.
Strasbourg, France in 1992 after the crash occurred in Cologne with the earthquakes and floods, the French.
The recent earthquake in Haiti as well
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/world/2009/10/11/33512/UN-recovers-11-victims-from-Haiti-plane-crash
www.shaodl.com/sspl8.htm

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1 reaction to this article

shaodonglin posted: 2010-02-05 08:48:36

German newspapers
Note Mannheim, Germany January 4 U.S. military helicopter crashed in the Rhine region and the recent weather related disasters and earthquakes. Downstream from the Rhine (Netherlands) to the upstream (Switzerland including the Northern Italy), the recent air crash, and Spain, the UK earthquake in the Straits are in this sense.
Strasbourg, France in 1992 after the crash occurred in Cologne with the earthquakes and floods, the French.
The recent earthquake in Haiti as well
http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/world/2009/10/11/33512/UN-recovers-11-victims-from-Haiti-plane-crash
www.shaodl.com/sspl8.htm

Add a comment
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