This November presents a historic moment in German history, one that transcends the usual classical happenings in Germany that I share with you here. On November 9, Germany celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and there is no better time to appreciate the depth, quality and diversity found in the capital city’s classical scene. Of course, Berlin’s top musicians will play a part in remembering the historical significance of the day. And while many ensembles or musicians are dedicating performances to the anniversary, the city’s very best, the Philharmonic, will be leading the way.
The Berlin Philharmonic and the Konzerthaus Orchestra have teamed up to create a chamber music concert series that serves as a powerful tribute to the concepts surrounding the anniversary: reunification, peace and freedom. The series consists of six concerts that highlight a variety of small ensembles, all of which are made up of musicians from both the Philharmonic and the Konzerthaus Orchestra -- including the Venus Ensemble Berlin, the Quintett Chantily and the Finsterbusch Trio.
Berlin: the Konzerthaus
But it’s the musical vision behind the concerts that, in my opinion, sets this tribute apart. Not only will the ensembles perform classical greats, they’ll also unveil six brand-new compositions written by a group of composers who represent “New Berlin.” These artists all wrote music in the formerly divided Berlin, either in the East or the West. The series organizers want the impact of the music, and its message, to extend well beyond November 9, as the last four concerts take place well into 2010.
The opening concert featured the music of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Erhard Grosskopf, a Berlin-born composer whose large body of work has been described as “expressive” and “haunting.” While that concert is behind us, you still have a chance to catch the second performance in the series at the Konzerthaus on November 4. The Quintett Chantily shares the stage with the Venus Ensemble and pianist Cordelia Höfer.
The concert includes two pieces for wind ensemble from composers Antonin Rejcha and György Ligeti, plus Schumann’s Piano Quintett in E flat Major. The original composition featured on this evening is a piece for a string sextet from avant-garde composer Friedrich Schenker. Schenker was born in Berlin and studied at Hanns Eisler School of Music before going on to create the Hanns Eisler New Music Group in 1970, an ensemble known for its cutting-edge interpretations of chamber music in the former East Germany.
You’ll have to wait until January 20 for the third installment of the series, when the Horenstein Ensemble, a chamber music group from the Konzerthaus Orchestra, takes the stage. They will showcase a new composition from Samir Odeh-Tamimi, a Palestinian-Israeli composer who lives and works in Berlin. His work, characterized by unique tonality and great energy, often references political instability in both his homeland and in Germany, creating a synthesis between the sounds of his homeland and traditional European instrumentation. This performance should not be missed!
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsing in the Berliner Philharmonie
The final three concerts in the series include a very eclectic mix of music: first is a piece written for 12 celli from the brilliant Estonian composer and long-time Berliner, Arvo Pärt. In March, the Finsterbusch Trio will perform a composition from Dieter Schnebel, a career professor of experimental music at Berlin’s University of the Arts. Finally, the Konzerthaus Orchestra’s Drum Ensemble will perform an original piece from German composer Friedrich Goldmann, who passed away at the age of 68 in July. His composition for drums is considered to be one of his most significant works and is a fitting close to the fall of the Berlin Wall tribute series.
The concert venues switch between the Philharmonic and Konzerthaus performance halls but all the details, including ticket information, can be found at www.vereinte-klassik.de. So take a moment to revel in the city of Berlin—it’s history, perseverance and rich tradition of classical music.
Sumi Somaskanda/Expatica
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Expatica’s classical music reviewer, Sumi Somaskanda, previews the musical tribute marking the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
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