Chamber Music Concert Hall Berlin
Last night I attended a Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performance at Chamber Music Concert Hall. There were several transportation choices for getting there from my apartment in Kreuzberg District. U-Bahn wasn’t one of them. At night, I’m more confident taking U-Bahn and am a bit leery of walking between connections. Since I plan to attend many concerts during my stay in Berlin, this first visit to the Chamber Music Concert Hall was a valuable learning experience.
Getting to the Philharmonic Concert Hall
After considering options, I took the M41 bus to Potsdamer Platz and walked about 10 minutes to the concert hall. It worked out well, even though I initially went in the wrong direction :o( but figured it out and changed course. Passengers on the bus were helpful, and I learned from my mistake. Berlin taxis are expensive, and I’m not sure if they’re safe. Since I’ll be in Berlin for awhile, it’s important to get comfortable riding buses and trams as well as the U-Bahn. From what I’ve seen of local traffic, doubt I’ll be renting a car and driving.
I’ve been looking forward to the concert after hearing praise for Berlin’s exceptional world-renowned symphony. Many consider Berliner Philharmoniker the “world’s greatest orchestra”. Not surprisingly, the performance was sold out. Paavo Järvi conducted works by Witold Lutosławski and Johannes Brahms. The modern concert hall is a theatre-in-the round with stellar acoustics. I had a balcony side seat facing the conductor – a prefect vantage point for viewing the orchestra in action.
Witold Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra
Polish composer Witold Lutosławsk’s Concerto for Orchestra is “one of the top Polish works of Social Realism”. It’s described as a “rousing concert for orchestra combining the harsh force of Polish folk music with ingenious, futuristic construction”.
The Concerto has three movements beginning with a solemn introduction featuring “transformed tunes of folk songs”. Critics characterize the second movement as a “syncopated folk tune”. The finale is the longest movement and has a “dramatic effect through the rise of the sound volume from pianissimo to fortissimo”. It’s a dramatic abstract composition!
Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D Major
German composer Johannes Brahms’ Second Symphony was a sharp contrast to Lutoslawski’s more avantgarde composition. He created the symphony during a holiday on Lake Wörthersee, a glacial lake in the Starnberg district of Bavaria. Some think Brahms got his inspiration from folklore – the legend of the Origin of Lake Wörthersee.
Critics describe Symphony No. 2 as having a “pastoral, serenade-like quality with moments of somber severity”. It’s considered the Brahms Symphony “most suitable for a chamber version with expressive solos and transparent textures”. The soloists were flawless and magnificent!
The symphony has four movements, allegro non troppo, adagio non troppo, allegretto grazioso, and allegro con spirito. The rousing finale was spectacular and brought the audience to their feet.
Paavo Järvi Conductor
Paavo Järvi is Artistic Director of Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Together with the Berlin Symphony he’s produced popular recordings of works by Johannes Brahms, Igor Stravinsky, Richard Strauss, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Robert Schumann. Järvi is a masterful conductor!
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“Järvi is a fascinating man to watch in concert. Not only is he a Grammy award-winning conductor, but he is also a swift mover on the stage. He remains focused, and incredibly involved in the music.”
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Paavo Järvi’s Conducting Career and Awards
Järvi’s career began in 1995 as conductor of Stockholm’s Kungliga Filharmoniska Orkestern. Career landmarks include positions with the Cincinnati Symphony and the Frankfurt HR Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his position with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, he’s artistic advisor to the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and Järvi Summer Festival in Pärnu, Estonia.
In 2010, Järvi was awarded the ECHO Klassik as Conductor of the Year for his Beethoven interpretation – considered his greatest success. “The CD versions of Beethoven’s nine symphonies and the performances of the complete Beethoven cycle in Tokyo, Yokohama, Lanaudière Quebec, Paris, Strasbourg, Montreal, Bonn, Salzburg, Warsaw, and Sao Paolo sparked a wave of enthusiasm.”
Following the Beethoven project, “Järvi and his orchestra worked on the symphonic works of Robert Schumann”. The third CD with Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 and the Concert Piece for 4 Horns was awarded the prestigious French Music Prize, the Diapason d’Or. Then he focused on the complete Brahms Symphony Cycle and won Germany’s Opus Klassik Award in the category “Symphonic Recording of the Year (music of the 19th century)”.
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“Berlin’s striking pentagonal yellow concert hall was the product of designs by Hans Scharoun. It, along with the Neue Nationalgalerie, the chamber music hall, and the State Library, make up Berlin Kulturforum.“
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Beginning with the 2019/20 season Järvi will become the new Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. He’s absolutely mesmerizing, a phenomenal conductor!
The magnificent Brahms piece was my favorite. The audience wasn’t shy about acknowledging the talented musicians and conductor with enthusiastic applause. It was a thrilling performance and made for a memorable evening in Berlin!
Interesting! Yesterday I attended a U3A talk on China’s second cultural revolution. Apparently the government is pouring millions into a revival of orchestras. The photos of the new concert halls across the country were amazing. The speaker suggested that it was only a matter of a short time before the world’s leading conductors would be a part of the movement.