backstage

CHRISTIAN SINDING - Romantic Symphonies from the North

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
Karl-Heinz Steffens

One of my most surprising trips and recording at the beautiful North. Surprised by the Beauty of the Landscape, the fantastic concert Hall in Norrköping and ofc. the excellent performance of the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. Last not least surprised of these late-romantic symphonies by Christian Sinding, who – honestly – for me was only known by his "Rustle of Spring" piano piece. Christian Sinding was a more important figure in the music of his native Norway than this might suggest; there, in his time, he was second only to Grieg. Trained in Leipzig, he fell under the influence of Liszt and Wagner, producing a large quantity of music that, although it enjoyed contemporary popularity, remains forgotten in today’s concert programmes.
Recording: Norköpping, De Geerhallen · Recording Supervision: Roland Kistner · Video Operator: David Tarrodi · Video Edit: Axel Stummer Interview: Johannes Kernmayer

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The PROGRAM DIRECTORS - How to keep Audiences away from Concert Halls

ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna
Cornelius Meister · Ariane Matiakh

For this Episode we welcomes Dr. Christoph Becher, former dramaturg and general director, to explore the complexities of curating a concert season. He reveals the three-pronged approach involving the orchestra chief, guest conductor, and presenter, each with differing priorities. This episode delves into the challenges radio symphony orchestras face in balancing their mission to promote contemporary music with audience appeal. Dr. Becher shares anecdotes from his career, including championing Henze's "Raft of the Medusa" and dealing with hesitant presenters. The conversation explores audience perceptions of modern music, the difficulties of programming Schoenberg, and the unexpected resistance to even accessible romantic composers like Dohnányi. Dr. Becher's forthcoming book on Schoenberg, designed to make his music more approachable, is also discussed. The episode concludes by highlighting Dr. Becher's innovative work at renowned institutions, including a Hamburg series featuring surprise contemporary pieces, and collaborations on projects like Dvořák's "The Spectre's Bride." with: Jens F. Laurson (Journalist) · Johannes Kernmayer (Capriccio) · Dr. Christoph Becher (Program Director) Video Operator: Martin Klebahn / 4tune Studios

 

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BEETHOVEN vs. MAHLER - liked or disliked retouchings?

Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz
Michael Francis

The influence of Gustav Mahler on the performance practice of Beethoven's symphonies is explored in this episode. Mahler's "retouchings," undertaken to adapt Beethoven's works for the larger orchestras and concert halls of his time, are examined in detail. The discussion considers the implications of these revisions for modern interpretations of Beethoven's symphonic repertoire.
with: Jens F. Laurson (Journalist) · Johannes Kernmayer (Capriccio) Video Operator: Martin Klebahn / 4tune Studios

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CLASSICS behind the WALL

Olaf Bär · Jochen Kowalski · Christine Schornsheim
Conrad Muck · Kurt Sanderling

In this episode of “Classical Discoveries,” I try to explore with Jens East Germany’s (GDR) musical landscape before the Berlin Wall fell, also discuss the high cultural prestige in the GDR, featuring interviews with musicians like Olaf Bär and Christine Schornsheim. The episode highlights the use of music for propaganda, the secure yet politically constrained lives of musicians, and notable figures like Kurt Sanderling and Hanns Eisler. It also covers significant recordings and the challenges of producing music in the GDR.

With: Jens F. Laurson (Journalist), Johannes Kernmayer (Capriccio)
Video Operator: Martin Klebahn

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ALFRED SCHNITTKE and his fascinating FILM MUSIC SCORES

Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Frank Strobel · Vladimir Jurowski

A self-described polystylist, Alfred Schnittke began writing for film in the 1960s, penning 66 film scores between 1962 and 1984 for Soviet film companies. For the new CD release of Vol. 6 (Little Tragedies) we talk about these fascinating compositions which shows us a complete other side of this famous russian composer.

With: Jens F. Laurson (Journalist), Johannes Kernmayer (Capriccio)
Video Operator: Martin Klebahn

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JEANNE D'ARC by WALTER BRAUNFELS

Juliane Banse · Martin Gantner · Pavol Breslik · Johan Reuter · Norbert Ernst
SALZBURGER BACHCHOR · ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra · MANFRED HONECK

Walter Braunfels is a composer whose music died twice: Once when the Nazis declared his music “degenerate art”. Then again when post-war Germany had little use for the various schools of tonal music; when the arbiters of taste considered any form of romantic music – almost the whole pre-war aesthetic – to be tainted. This already 10th release of Capriccio’s Braunfels Edition focus on one of his most popular Opera works. What makes Jeanne D’Arc such an uncommonly effective music drama is not just the often sumptuous, post-romantic musical language but Braunfels’ own libretto. The main storyline of Joan of Arc is known well enough: Vision, liberation of Orleans, coronation of the Dauphin, arrest, trial, and burning at the stake. Braunfels somehow managed to put together a libretto from the original French and Latin 15th-century trial documents of Joan of Arc, a smidgen of by George Bernard Shaw (Saint Joan), and his own additions, that makes this story and its characters – in so many ways so far removed from a modern audience’s sensibilities and reality – relatable to listeners today

with: Jens F. Laurson (Journalist) / Johannes Kernmayer (Capriccio) / Video Operator: Martin Klebahn

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ANTON BRUCKNER EDITION - Backstage Interviews / Part 1

Bruckner Orchester Linz · ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Markus Poschner

Why we have so many versions of Bruckner Symphonies? What are the differences between them and what is really new in the New Bruckner Edition? JOHANNES KERNMAYER (Capriccio / Naxos) talks about with long-time Bruckner Expert PAUL HAWKSHAW (Professor Emeritus, Yale School of Music)
Recordings: Linz, Musiktheater / Wien, Radiokulturhaus · Recording Supervision: Erich Hofmann · Video Operator: Axel Stummer · Interview: Johannes Kernmayer

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Beethoven and the Mahler Re-Orchestrations

Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz Michael Francis

Does Beethoven Works realy need an re-orchestration? Gustav Mahler, the conductor, considered Beethoven’s scores primarily a challenge; material that needed adapting and adopting to the orchestras and concert halls of his time.
Johannes Kernmayer talks to conductor Michael Francis who explains us the Backgrounds.
Recording Supervision: Roland Kistner
Video Operator: Axel Stummer
Interview: Johannes Kernmayer
Co-Production SWR -
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz – Capriccio
3CD-Set C5484 ist [06/2024 Release]

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JOSEF LABOR and PAUL WITTGENSTEIN

The blind composer and his one-handed pianist
OLIVER TRIENDL · Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz · Eugene Tzigane

Besides the well-known Left Hand Piano Concertos by Korngold, Prokofiev, Ravel and others, this very first Concert of Josef Labor marks the beginning of this genre in 1915. One-Handed pianist Paul Wittgenstein ordered it already during his captivity in Russia where he lost his right arm but determined to forward his pianistic career.
Recording: Ludwigshafen, Philharmonie, Feb. 2023
Recording Supervision: Karola Parry
Video Operator: Philipp Ohl
Producer: Stefan Lang (Deutschlandfunk); Johannes Kernmayer (Capriccio)
Capriccio CD C5521 

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ZYGMUNT NOSKOWSI - The forgotten polish romanticist

Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz · Antoni Wit

Sometimes you are surprosed why no one listens to this beautiful romantic music anymore. More surprisingly why these scores are completely forgotten in the last 150 years. Polish Music Expert and conductor ANTONI WIT explains us more about Zygmunt Noskowski (1846-1909) and his time. Capriccio CD C5509
Recording: Ludwigshafen, Philharmonie, 17.09.2022
Recording Supervision: Roland Ruble
Video Operator: Philippe Ohl, philo-media
Producer: Johannes Kernmayer

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