When Music Became Modern - "intonations" at the Jewish Museum Berlin

Two anniversaries provide thematic accents

The thematic focus of the festival this year is determined by two anniversaries: the beginning of World War I with its impact on musical compositions and the 150th birthday of Richard Strauss. Together with his contemporary Gustav Mahler, Strauss is one of the most important pioneers of modern music. As musical director of the Berlin Court Opera he also witnessed the deep historic rupture of the early 20th century.

"It is fascinating to explore the stylistic variety that reigned in Europe around 1914," festival director Elena Bashkirova comments. "Composers that were deeply rooted in the 19th century such as Edward Elgar or Max Reger worked alongside young revolutionaries like Kurt Weill or avant-garde musicians like Anton Webern and Igor Strawinsky. Dramatist Richard Strauss shaped musical life as much as the romanticist Claude Debussy."

This diversity is also reflected in the festival program: traditional chamber music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, Max Reger and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy is presented alongside contemporary pieces by Aribert Reimann and a world premiere by pianist David Coleman. For Elena Bashkirova, a special discovery made during the preparations for the program was the composer Rudi Stephan whose piece will open the festival.

Tradition with a Future

The chamber music festival founded by Elena Bashkirova in 1998 ranks as one of the most important cultural events in Israeli music life. In April 2012, the special spirit of the "Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival" could be experienced in Berlin for the first time, when it premiered with great success in the Jewish Museum Berlin under the title of "intonations".

This successful cooperation at the invitation of W. Michael Blumenthal, General Director of the museum, will now be continued through 2016. "I am very happy to have found another artistic home here in the Glass Courtyard of the Jewish Museum Berlin", says Elena Bashkirova. Evonik Industries, a sponsor of the festival from the beginning, has confirmed its support for the next years. The dates for the upcoming festivals have already been determined: 18 - 23 April 2015 and 16 - 21 April 2016.

Support for the realization of the festival comes from Evonik Industries.

Media partners:

rbb Kulturradio

Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus

tipBerlin

TheaterGemeinde Berlin

The "Quartett der Kritiker" ("Critics' Quartet")

On Friday 9 May at 5.30 pm the "Critics' Quartet" will convene in the Jewish Museum Berlin. Hosted by Olaf Wilhelmer (Deutschlandradio), Dr. Christian Wildhagen (FAZ), Dr. Kai Luehrs-Kaiser (journalist), Dr. Michael Gassmann (Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart) and Dr. Martin Elste (musicologist) will talk about selected recordings of the piano quintet a-minor op. 84 by Edward Elgar. They will discuss various interpretations and use listening samples and background information to reveal different facets of the piece which will be performed live in the ensuing concert from 7.30 pm.

The "Critics' Quartet", a panel convening in changing cast, was initiated by the German Record Critics' Award. For over 50 years this award has been viewed as an independent body for quality assessment of the German recording industry.

The current program can be found at www.jmberlin.de/intonations. (changes reserved)

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jmberlin Hashtag: #intonations