Berlin Konzerthaus has new boss
NewsThe venue needs to replace Sebastian Nordmann, who is of to run the Lucerne Festival.
It has chosen Tobias Rempe, founder-manager of Ensemble Resonanz. Rempe, 53, has the approval of chief conductor Joana Mallwitz and of Kultursenator Joe Chialo, who said he brought a ‘new vision and strategy’.
What is Ensemble Resonanz?
A Hamburg chamber orchestra that wants to combine the classical with what they think is modern. They try to find new formats. But they are excellent players.
Mozart:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69algGsObJs
Schubert V:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7OG6uqpLhA
To update things, old pieces are being modernized:
Bach’s St John’s passion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6fIdmFWDuU
… and new pieces considered really new:
Enno Poppe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRybb9RfNHM
The Konzerthaus is a thoroughly classical building from 1818-1821, based upon timeless structural relationships which relate to the human perception of mathematical beauty, enlivened with delicate decorations, one of the great classical monuments of Germany, on a square of great beauty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg1qCzlbtwQ
The Konzerthaus has a dramatic history, being almost completely destroyed in WW II but meticulously rebuilt into its timeless glory:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyHR4yNkk-Y
It is to be hoped that with the new leadership, the symbolic lesson of the building will have an impact.
PS:
The Bach Christmas Oratorio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeVCq7szQsg
This will certainly draw crowds of youngsters to JS Bach’s music, which suddenly does not sound old any longer.
This promises to be a very poor decision. Mr Rempe can barely run a group in Hamburg, but the truth is that the BK needs someone ineffectual so that Ms Mallwitz does what she likes.
JM is already as stale as last week’s Schrippen.