Skip to main content

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

Press Information

Press Release, Tue 6 May 2014

Duration of the third festival: 7 – 11 May 2014

On Wednesday, 7 May, the opening concert for the chamber music festival "intonations – the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival" will be performed at the Jewish Museum Berlin. For the third time, chamber music at the highest level will be presented in the Glass Courtyard over the course of five days. Artistic director Elena Bashkirova once again brings together musicians from all over the world: renowned soloists, members of international leading orchestras and promising young talents will be seen on stage, including Kolja Blacher, András Schiff and Radu Lupu.

Kontakt

Press office
T +49 (0)30 259 93 419
presse@jmberlin.de

Address

Jewish Museum Berlin Foundation
Lindenstraße 9–14
10969 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.

Location Glass Courtyard, ground level
Duration of the festival 7 to 11 May 2014
Admission 24 € and 20 € plus reservation fee, reduced rate 16 € (only at the ticket office on the night of the performance)
Ticket reservation At all known advance ticket offices, at the ticket office of the Jewish Museum Berlin and at the door

by telephone on 01805-570070 (0,14 euros/min. from German landlines, max 0,42 euros/min. from the German mobile phone network)

online at www.eventim.de

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

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

Share, Newsletter, Feedback