“Über den Fluss …”, the first of the two concerts, focused on overcoming that and the foreign on the other side in five compositions. Three of them as premieres: The Danish composer Mogens Christensen takes up the theme of the “subterranean rivers” that began with Anestis Logothetis’ “Styx” – as is the title – and walks safely through the mythological water world of Hades. Fascinating how he uses flute, clarinet, piano and two percussionists in shades.
From the “Winter Journey”
Sven Birch, who curated the evening and eloquently directed the fine Ensemble 4020, contributed two new pieces. One that re-instruments and comments on what is perhaps Schubert’s most famous “river” song – “Auf dem Flusse” from “Winterreise” (tenor: Matthäus Schmidlechner). The second led to the underworld of Norse mythology to the river Slidr, which “rolls eastwards through valleys of pus, mud and swords”. The sounds of Dowland’s “Lachrymae” penetrate like structures distorted by fog.
At the second concert, the Trio Weinmeister, with Marino Formenti at the piano, created a fine program with pieces by Salvatore Sciarrino, György Kurtág, Luciano Berio, Friedrich Cerha and Kaija Saariaho in the bracket of Bach’s trio sonatas and Klaus Lang’s compositions – with quiet and delicate counterpoints. (wuss)
Source: Nachrichten
