Work of the Week Archive - Page 2 of 30

2022/03/07

Work of the Week – Florence B. Price: Concert Overture No. 2

On 8 March, the world celebrates the 111th International Women’s Day. There seems no better occasion to take a look at female composers and their works in the Schott catalogue . There have certainly been moves recently further to promote the myriad of works by female composers. In spite of this, the work of male composers still dominates the music scene. One piece that remains largely unknown is the Concert Overture No. 2 for full orchestra by Florence Beatrice Price. Continue reading “Work of the Week – Florence B. Price: Concert Overture No. 2”

2022/02/28

Work of the Week – Joerg Widmann: 7 Capricci

Reverent chorales alongside circus music – a contradiction? Joerg Widmann unites the alleged opposites in his 7 Capricci for saxophone quartet. On 4 March 2022 the Spanish Kebyart Ensemble will present the British premiere in London’s Jarewood Hall at LSO St. Luke’ s. Continue reading “Work of the Week – Joerg Widmann: 7 Capricci”

2022/02/21

Work of the Week – Christian Jost: Nocturnal Movements

A nocturnal work through a dark, silent city. The name of Christian Jost’ s Nocturnal Movements could assume this impression. Still, the auditory impression is different, showcasing a lively nightlife and a visit to a vibrant jazz club. On 24 February 2022 the composer conducts the world premiere of his work for piano and chamber orchestra at the Berlin Philharmonie. Pianist Michael Wollny, renowned in the international jazz scene, takes the stage, alongside the Kammerakademie Potsdam. Continue reading “Work of the Week – Christian Jost: Nocturnal Movements”

2022/02/14

Work of the Week – Ludger Vollmer: Der Tigerprinz

A cinema screen, a live camera and a children’s book. Most people probably wouldn´t associate these objects with an orchestral work, but they prove an important component to the performance of Ludger Vollmer’s Der Tigerprinz (The Tiger Prince). The work for narrator and orchestra sets to music Chen Jianghong’s book of the same name. The music and narration are accompanied by unique images, projected onto a screen, providing an experience which can be appreciated by people of all ages. On 20 February the piece will be performed to a live audience for the first time at the Tonhalle Düsseldorf. The Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra will perform under the direction of Harish Shankar, Wolfram Boelzle appearing as narrator. The visual realisation is the work of the theater collective compagnie toit végétal. Continue reading “Work of the Week – Ludger Vollmer: Der Tigerprinz”

2022/01/31

Work of the Week – Gregory Spears: Love Story

On hearing the title Love Story, many people probably first think of the 1970s filmic melodrama whose title melody by Francis Lai achieved worldwide fame as the “melody of fate”, and still serves as a memory hook for the minor sixth in aural training. With his 15-minute work for countertenor and orchestra, Gregory Spears now rivals this melody. His own Love Story is a setting of a new poem by Tracy K. Smith. The premiere of the work will take place at New York’s Alice Tully Hall on 3 February 2022. Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo sings alongside the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jaap Van Zweden. Continue reading “Work of the Week – Gregory Spears: Love Story”

2022/01/24

Work of the Week – Richard Strauss: Die schweigsame Frau

A noise-sensitive main character, a spirited opera troupe and a pile of money – there can’t be more potential for conflict than that! Richard Strauss probably thought so too, using precisely these three motifs for his only comic opera. Die schweigsame Frau, an opera in three acts, will be revived by the Bavarian State Opera this season. The revival will take place on 29 January 2022 at the Munich National Theatre. Stefan Soltesz will take over the musical direction, Barrie Kosky staging the production. Continue reading “Work of the Week – Richard Strauss: Die schweigsame Frau”

2022/01/17

Work of the Week – Julian Anderson: Symphony No. 2

“If ever there was a musical book of photographs, [Praha Panoramatickà] is it”, according to composer Julian Anderson. Inspired by these photographs, he wrote his Symphony No. 2, which will be premiered on 19 January 2022. The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Semyon Bychkov will present Symphony No. 2 for orchestra, subtitled “Prague Panoramas”.

Continue reading “Work of the Week – Julian Anderson: Symphony No. 2”

2022/01/10

Work of the Week – Peter Eötvös: Focus

You have certainly watched a silent film before. But have you ever seen a film without a picture? This is exactly what Peter Eötvös is trying to achieve in his new work Focus – a piece of music in which the ear is guided as if by a camera. The concerto for saxophone and orchestra will be premiered at the Funkhaus am Wallrafplatz in Cologne on 15 January 2022. Saxophone soloist Marcus Weiss will play alongside the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln conducted by Elena Schwarz. Continue reading “Work of the Week – Peter Eötvös: Focus”

2021/12/27

Work of the Week – Anno Schreier: Der Anfang

Do you wish for a new beginning next year? Then we have a piece for you that will make your new year’s resolution a success: Der Anfang by Anno Schreier. The 10-minute work for choir and orchestra will be premiered at Theater Aachen’s New Year’s Concert at the Eurogress on 1 January 2022 as a prologue to Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. The Aachen Opera Choir and the Aachen Symphonic Choir will sing alongside the Aachen Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christopher Ward.

+++ Unfortunately, the world premiere had to be postponed due to coronavirus. +++

Continue reading “Work of the Week – Anno Schreier: Der Anfang”

2021/12/20

Work of the Week – Nikolaj Rimskij-Korsakov: Sonnwendnacht

This year, you will not only have the opportunity to experience the winter solstice on 21 December, but also afterwards. How does that work? On 23 December 2021, Oper Frankfurt will present Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sonnwendnacht. The opera in four acts is based on Nikolai Gogol’s well-known fairy tale Christmas Eve – the production in Frankfurt also uses this title. Rimsky-Korsakov works with traditional Kolyada songs, which used to be sung in Russia on the evening before Christmas.The performance will be in Russian, with German and English subtitles, directed by Christof Loy with musical direction from Sebastian Weigle. Continue reading “Work of the Week – Nikolaj Rimskij-Korsakov: Sonnwendnacht”

Schott Music

Category: Work of the Week