Poetic Masters

The words glow and poetry gains new life in this concert, in which DR Vokalensemblet is conducted for the first time by the German-Finnish Nils Schweckendiek – one of Europe's most sought-after and prizewinning conductors, who has received, among other things, a Grammy Award in 2024, two Gramophone Editor's Choice awards and no fewer than three times the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics' Award). From Paul Hindemith's heartfelt An eine Tote to György Kurtág's concentrated tribute in Omaggio a Luigi Nono, a musical world unfolds in which every note and every word carries meaning – and at the same time the 100th anniversary of the still-living Kurtág is marked, celebrated this year all over Europe. Robert Schumann's romantic songs reflect longing and beauty, while Rautavaara's Lorca Suite lets the Spanish poet's image-saturated universe shine in a special, Nordic light. New sound spaces open up in the work of Rudolf Escher and the Estonian Seppar, while Kaija Saariaho's sensual Nuits, Adieux hovers in the tension between night and farewell. The concert culminates in Mahler's moving Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen in Clytus Gottwald's masterly choral arrangement – a quiet, sublime farewell to the world. Programme: Anton Webern / Entflieht auf leichten Kähnen Einojuhani Rautavaara / Suite de Lorca György Kurtág / Omaggio a Luigi Nono Op. 16 (selection) Kaija Saariaho / Nuits, adieux Andrea Tarrodi / Poppies in October Bent Sørensen / In Wahrheit Singen Gustav Mahler / Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (arr. Clytus Gottwald)

• Dirigent: Nils Schweckendiek
• Monika Mikalajunaitebratsch

LISTEN TO MUSIC BY THE CONCERT'S COMPOSERS