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Jens F. Laurson

Jens F. Laurson is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the International Affairs Forum, translator, and a free-lance journalist. His work has been published in Forbes, the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Baltimore Sun, et al. He has written on classical music for the Washington Post, Chamber Music America, Crescendo [Germany], Listen Magazine, Musical America, Opera [UK], American Record Guide, Fanfare, Opera Canada, WGMS.com, and for the Washington culture-blog ionarts.org. From 2007 until 2011 he was the Critic-at-Large for Washington Classical WETA 90.9 FM. Jens grew up in a musical household, with a love especially for Bach instilled from an early age. That he could read notes before he could read letters lent (eventually disappointed) hope to the family that he might step into the footsteps of his harpsichordist uncle whose vinyls of Scarlatti he grew up on. He joined the Regensburger Domspatzen, despite a distinct lack of Catholicism, but did not pursue an active role in music thereafter. He is a musical omnivore and listens with equal zeal to anything from Renaissance to contemporary music, to opera, chamber, instrumental and orchestral music. A music library of some 10000 discs speaks to his general obsession; a more particular love focuses on Bach, the addiction of Mahler, and 'twice forgotten' 20th century composers who had their work seen overtaken by neglect first for biographical, the stylistic reasons. Franz Mittler, Eric(h) Zeisl, Joseph Marx, Walter Braunfels, Erwin Schulhoff, and the like among them.

Riccardo Muti and the Magical Trousers

31/12/201226/12/2012 by Jens F. Laurson

GermanyGermany Mendelssohn, Schubert: Ruth Ziesak (soprano), Alisa Kolosova (mezzo), Saimir Pirgu (tenor), Michele Pertusi (bass), Riccardo Muti (conductor), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Chorus, Herkulessaal, Munich, 20.12.2012 (JFL)

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Categories International Concerts, Previously Published Tags Jens F. Laurson, Munich

Munich Philharmonic Warhorses

31/12/201220/12/2012 by Jens F. Laurson

GermanyGermany Wagner, Debussy, Stravinsky: Lorin Maazel (conductor), Munich Philharmonic, Philharmonic Hall Gasteig, Munich, 15.11.2012 (JFL)

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Categories International Concerts, Previously Published Tags Jens F. Laurson, Munich

Hamelin: Piano-Pyrotechnician Gone Soft

12/04/201419/12/2012 by Jens F. Laurson

GermanyGermany Bach, Debussy, Busoni, Hamelin, Rachmaninoff: Marc-André Hamelin (piano), Herkulessaal, Munich, 12.12.2012 (JFL)

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Categories International Concerts, Previously Published Tags Jens F. Laurson, Munich

Penderecki’s New Double Concerto

31/12/201219/12/2012 by Jens F. Laurson

GermanyGermany Beethoven, Penderecki: Janine Jansen (violin), Julian Rachlin (viola), Mariss Jansons (conductor), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Herkulessaal, Munich, 16.11.2012 (JFL)

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Categories International Concerts, Previously Published Tags Jens F. Laurson, Munich

Mariss Janson’s Beethoven Cycle

17/12/2012 by Jens F. Laurson

GermanyGermany Beethoven, Mochizuki: Yefim Bronfman (piano), Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor), Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Hall Gasteig, Munich, 9.11.2012 (JFL)

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Categories International Concerts, Previously Published Tags Jens F. Laurson, Munich

A Sibelius Lover’s Frozen Dream

12/12/2012 by Jens F. Laurson

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Sibelius: Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Osmo Vänskä (conductor), London Symphony Orchestra, Barbican Hall, London, 7.12.2012 (JFL)

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Categories Previously Published, UK Concerts Tags Jens F. Laurson, London

The Queen’s Medal for Music Amid a Vengerov Outing

07/02/201410/12/2012 by Jens F. Laurson

United KingdomUnited Kingdom P.M.Davies, Tchaikovsky, Elgar: Maxim Vengerov (violin), Robin Ticciati (conductor), London Symphony Orchestra, Barbican Hall, London, 5.12.2012 (JFL)

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Categories Previously Published, UK Concerts Tags Jens F. Laurson, London

Tricontinental Borusan Dvořák

12/04/201409/12/2012 by Jens F. Laurson

TurkeyTurkey Dvořák : Borusan Quartet (Esen Kivrak, Olgu Kizilay – violins, Efdal Altun – viola, Çağ Erçağ – cello), Süreyya Opera House, Istanbul, 5.11.2012 (JFL)

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Categories International Concerts, Previously Published Tags Istanbul, Jens F. Laurson
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