Møt musikerne: Johannes Schantz

Meet the Musicians: Johannes Schantz

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Live Klassisk3 min read|26. February 2024
Welcome to our interview relay with musicians from the classical music scene! Today we have the pleasure of presenting Johannes Schantz , who was nominated in the previous round. He is a violinist and works freelance in Norway and Sweden. Here he shares his thoughts on classical music and recommends upcoming concerts for both new and experienced concertgoers!
Name, instrument and profession?
My name is Johannes. I am a violinist and a freelancer!
What are you working on at the moment?
I do what freelancers usually do; lots of different things! I regularly stand in with the Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester and try to play as much chamber music as possible. At the same time I am preparing for a trial week with Uppsala Kammarsoliser!
Most overrated composer or piece?
If I say it I will probably offend a lot of people, so I will move on to the next question, haha.
And at the opposite end... what music should everyone really get to experience?
Mahler's symphonies!
Your most recent great concert experience - what made it so special?
I was on the Asia tour with the Oslo Filharmoniske orkester in November and got one of the concerts off, when Janine Jansen was to play the Sibelius Violin Concerto. It was perhaps the best performance of Sibelius I have heard. Extremely virtuosic, with very many spontaneous musical moments. Every concert she played on the tour had different interpretations!
Which living composer inspires you most, and why
I don't think I have a specific favourite today, but there are many works I like by composers such as Ades, Hillborg, Abrahamsen, Dessner and Shaw, just to name a few.
Do you have any role models? Is there anyone who has been especially motivating or inspiring to you?
I have parents who are both musicians and I started on the violin when I was 4 years old. and have really never given up the thought of quitting. When I started I looked up a lot to the older students at my old school, «Lilla Akademin» in Stockholm and wanted to be able to become as good as them. But over the years I have become very grateful for all the teachers I have had and how patient they have been with me. My great violin role models are Heifetz, Gitlis, Ferras, Jansen and my old teachers, but I can also be inspired by friends, and try to learn the things they are good at.
Do you have any advice for «new listeners» who are curious about classical music and don't go to concerts very often?
I think it is important to familiarise yourself a little with what you are going to listen to. Perhaps listen through the work once if possible, or read about the work. Otherwise I understand that it can be difficult to find new listeners. It is a bit like watching a film in a completely unknown language without subtitles.
Any upcoming concerts you would like to recommend?
I am going to give a couple of short recitals in Oslo and Stockholm in May with a programme consisting of Ravel- Sonate posthume, Rozsa- North hungarian peasant songs and dances and Ravel- Tzigane, among other things. It is music I like very much (perhaps even something for new listeners)!
Finally - who would you like to challenge to take over the baton?
Vilde Alme!