Germany Musikfest Berlin 2016 [5]– Hommage à Pierre Boulez: Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano), Tamara Stefanovich (piano), Kammermusiksaal der Philharmonie, Berlin 12.9.16. (MC)
Michael Cookson
Neuwirth’s Percussion Concerto Focuses on Visual Theatrics and Sonic Investigation
Germany Musikfest Berlin 2016 [4]– Ligeti. Neuwirth, Dvořák: Robyn Schulkowsky (percussion), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin/Jakub Hrůša (conductor), Philharmonie, Berlin, 11.9.2016. (MC)
A Vibrant Sound of Glowing Intensity from Young German Musicians
United Kingdom Musikfest Berlin 2016 [3] – Matineekonzert. Varèse, Ligeti, Beethoven: Pekka Kuusisto (violin), Junge Deutsche Philharmonie/Jonathan Nott (conductor), Philharmonie, Berlin, 11.9.2016. (MC)
Deutsche Oper Takes Rossini’s Barber to the Seaside
Germany Rossini, The Barber of Seville (Il Barbiere di Siviglia): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin/Daniel Cohen (conductor), Deutsche Oper Berlin, 10.9.2016. (MC)
Impressive Varèse, Invigorating Berlioz from Berlin Philharmonic
Germany Musikfest Berlin 2016 [2} – Debussy, Varèse. Berlioz: Berliner Philharmoniker / Andris Nelsons (conductor), Philharmonie, Berlin, 9.9.2016. (MC)
Magnificent Bruckner Seven from Fischer and Konzerhausorchester Berlin
Germany Musikfest Berlin 2016 [1] – Henze, Bruckner: Julia Fischer (violin), Konzerthausorchester Berlin/Iván Fischer (conductor), Philharmonie, Berlin. 8.9.2016. (MC)
ARABELLA STEINBACHER IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL COOKSON
Arabella Steinbacher in conversation with Michael Cookson, Dresden 2016
My first exposure to the playing of Munich born violinist Arabella Steinbacher was in 2011 when reviewing her recording of the Shostakovich violin concertos on Orfeo. http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/June11/Shostakovich_Steinbacher_C687061A.htm
A child prodigy on the violin Steinbacher started lessons aged 3 and 5 years later became the youngest violin student of Ana Chumachenko at the Munich Academy of Music. In 2000 Steinbacher won the Joseph-Joachim-Violinwettbewerbes Hannover when she was 19 and the Förderpreis des Freistaates Bayern a year later. In 2004 she made her concert debut playing at short notice for an indisposed soloist with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France under Sir Neville Marriner in Paris.
Certainly a thrilling musician, Steinbacher has made an impressive reputation for herself with several excellent recordings under her belt. One of the finest violinists around compared to a group of talented soloists of her generation, curiously, she is not as well known as her talent deserves; especially in the U.K.
JAN VOGLER IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL COOKSON
Jan Vogler in conversation with Michael Cookson
Not only is Jan Vogler a renowned cellist on the international stage but driven by his insatiable appetite for music he also serves as Intendant of the Dresden Music Festival; with his contract recently extended until 2021. I have attended the festival for several years and under Vogler’s management the festival has grown to one of international renown attracting the world’s finest artists.