Musikfest Berlin

September 2015

For the fourth consecutive year, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra will play a concert at the Musikfest Berlin, which kicks off Berlin’s concert season each September. The festival presents 30 concerts over the course of 19 days, featuring both international and Berlin-based orchestras, soloists, instrumental and vocal ensembles.

This year, the musical world celebrates the 150th birthday of Danish composer Carl August Nielsen, and the Musikfest Berlin presents a six-concert portrait of Nielsen’s music. His work is combined with compositions from the Second Viennese School, which invites listeners to explore the variety of musical languages developed during the first part of the 20th century, and to experience their present-day relevance.

The MCO launches the series with the German premiere of Carl Nielsen’s Sixth Symphony, the Sinfonia Semplice, arranged for chamber orchestra by Hans Abrahamsen. The second piece played in the concert is Alban Berg’s Kammerkonzert for piano and violin with 13 winds. Before the concert, an exhibition on Carl Nielsen’s life and work will open in the foyer of the Philharmonie.

Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård is very well acquainted with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra as one of the MCO’s founding members and a previous percussionist. The MCO musicians are delighted to have him direct the orchestra for the first time.

MCO Artistic Partner Isabelle Faust will appear as a soloist in Alban Berg’s Kammerkonzert, along with her long-standing chamber music partner Alexander Melnikov, who is also an old friend of the MCO.

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CONCERTS THIS TOUR

09 September 2015 Berlin

Wednesday 20:00 / Philharmonie, Chamber Music Hall

Works by: Carl Nielsen, Hans Abrahamsen, Alban Berg

With: Conductor Thomas Søndergȧrd, Piano Alexander Melnikov, Violin Isabelle Faust