2nd chamber concert

Shepherds' round dance and reed songs - In Richard Wagner's imaginary salon

The programme takes up the atmosphere of the Wagners' house concerts, as recorded in Cosima Wagner's letters and diaries, and presents music by Richard Wagner and his contemporaries, spiced up with anecdotes. The relationship between words and music takes centre stage.

In the context of Romantic music, the oboe is not the instrument that first comes to mind, and yet Wagner gave it great responsibilities, as did the alto oboe (cor anglais). It is said to come very close to the human voice through its sound and articulation. As a mobile harmony instrument, the harp is the parlour lion par excellence, so of course it should not be missing!

August Klughardt, a composer based in Dessau and a contemporary of Wagner, combined the oboe with viola and piano in his »Schilflieder« after Nikolaus Lenau from 1872. The piano part can also be played enchantingly on the harp, a common practice at the time. Interestingly, he writes the text meticulously in the instrumental parts, seeming to trust his musicians to speak. Antje Thierbach, Eva Curth and Monika Grimm therefore take the liberty of also performing Wagnerian songs instrumentally.

Wagner was a colourful personality with many obsessions, but above all a visionary artist, composer, playwright, philosopher, conductor, director and cultural politician. Even during his lifetime, he polarised opinion in many respects. Unstable himself and for many years a wanted revolutionary in exile, he was surrounded by Jewish patrons and companions such as Giacomo Meyerbeer and Hermann Levi, which earned him the nickname »Rabbi of Bayreuth«. On the other hand, he nurtured anti-Semitism in a way that has had a fatal after-effect in the 20th century and to this day and is difficult to separate from the reception of his music. He described Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in the most contradictory way, full of admiration and anti-Semitic resentment. »Songs without Words« by the siblings Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn are therefore an essential part of the programme.

Antje Thierbach - oboe
Franziska Graefe - violin & background vocals
Eva Curth - harp
Monika Grimm - viola

Prices:
Single tickets in advance 20,00 €,
on the day of the event from 3 pm € 22.00 and pupils, trainees and students € 10.00

The price includes the opportunity to visit the Saxon Wine Museum on the day of the concert as well as a glass of sparkling wine from the Hoflößnitz or optionally a non-alcoholic drink, which will be served from 1 hour before the concert. All prices include 7 % VAT.

Admission is from 30 minutes before the concert begins.