Australian Chamber Orchestra 2015 Interview

·         You’ve worked with some of the world’s leading orchestras. What are some of your highlights, and why?

some highlights:Vienna Philharmonic with Seiji Ozawa, Japan Phil with Seiji, because Seiji was incredibly alert when accompagning, and Vienna Phil has glamour in the sound.. ..Rotterdam Phil (and Vienna Phil ) with Valery Gergiev, because they are bound together like a family. Philharmonia London not only for providing the most accurate first rehearsals (under Roger Norrington, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Frans Brüggen), Concertgebouw Amsterdam for greatest athmosphere in their hall…..and definitely ACO, for being the most up to time ChamberOrchestra of today! Perfection, spirit, know- how of styles, challenging programming, perfect organization: just like it should be!

·         Can you tell us some of the works you’ve selected, and how they relate to the theme ‘Around the World’?

I chose Bachs E major concerto for being a most classy classic, and it unfolds  a second movement which is a notated improvisation of the solo violin over a bass obstinate in c# minor which is eternal in its incredible beauty and quiet longing… I have always been a fan of Tschaikowskys "Souvenir de Florence" -very few composers can build up energy as compelling and merciless and huge and beautiful as Tschaikowsky - and to experience that with an elite ensemble like the ACO will be an essential sensation!  Samuel Barbers "Adagio for strings" is as popular as it is beautiful and it takes us to the music of the United states. The  "Metropoles Suite" by Austrian Jazzcomposer Herbert Berger connects several worlds: the tradition of chamber music in Europe with American Jazz, in the second movement we experience some tango feel, and the third movement displays a charming "Musette", inspired by french Manuche Music. All is wrapped up in exquisite Ensemble Arranging - with fascinating Harmonies, forms, sounds. I am very much looking forward to perform that piece, as it shows my true passion for jazz arrangements - i will also improvise on those charts - and it features a very accessible but classy contemporary composer.

·         This will be the first time ACO2 has performed at our Centre. Can you give our audiences some background on this extraordinary ensemble?

i will be working with ACO 2 the first time, but as far as I know , professional ACO players join with young graduates - so it should be a most inspiring mix of experience and fire!

·         What would you like audiences to take away from the experience of this program?

My aim is always that people walk out of my concerts just a bit happier then when they came in.

·         What other talent or skill would you like to possess?

I would like to have studied law - then i would understand the contracts I am signing constantly for concerts, recordings, mobile phones etc….

·         Which book do you think everybody should read?

in my opinion there is not "the one book", but everybody should read the human rights. Besides that i recommend " Der Zauberberg" by Thomas Mann.

·         What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Either Violinmaker - i loved to be in the violins workshop and smell fresh wood -  or violinist. Sorry not very surprising.

·         Who would play you in the film of your life?

Kevin Spacey, of course. Needs to practice the violin before, though.

·         If you could only perform the music of one composer for the rest of your life, who would it be?

my own- it would be the ultimative incentive to compose more.