Meet the Strings

Description

"Music does not exist in a vacuum." What Benjamin Britten referred to more in the context of the performance of musical pieces also applies to the works and their genesis themselves: A work is always based on a cultural context, or rather on what the composer does with it; on a complex network of sources of inspiration, taste concepts, and intentions. A good example is "Death and the Maiden," an allegory popular since the Renaissance. This eerie-erotic motif has been adopted and processed in various art forms, including the poem of the same name by Matthias Claudius from 1775. Franz Schubert then used this as a text template for his song "Death and the Maiden."

Schubert's song composition was also an important foundation for works of other genres, as evidenced not least by the slow movements of the string quartets D 804 and 810 from 1824. Both are based on direct quotes from the songs "Rosamunde" and "Death and the Maiden." Schubert expands the melody in Quartet D 810 into a continuously increasing, symphonic-sounding set of variations. Probably with the intention of making the quartet suitable for large halls, Gustav Mahler arranged it for string orchestra. The resulting piece is, however, a completely new one; despite the unchanged musical material, the difference in sound impression is enormous. Instead of intimate intensity, wide sound surfaces unfold over the foundation of the added double bass. And then there is Britten's performance context: The string players of the Musikkollegium Winterthur elicit a new, very own facet from the work again.

Program
Franz Schubert - "Death and the Maiden" D 810, arranged for string orchestra by Gustav Mahler

Cast
Strings of the Musikkollegium Winterthur
Conducting and Moderation: Bogdan Božović

The bar in the foyer is open from 5:00 p.m.
Closing together with the artists after the concert.

Highlights

• After-work concert focusing on romantic music
• Works by Franz Schubert and Gustav Mahler
• Thematic reference to "Death and the Maiden"

General Information

The concert takes place at the Stadthaus Winterthur and offers an introduction to the cultural backgrounds of the works. It highlights the connection between songs, string quartets, and orchestral arrangements from the Romantic era.

Location

Stadthausstrasse 4a, 8400 Winterthur, Schweiz

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