The complete version of Wolfgang Rihm's Symphony 'Nähe fern' had its world premiere at the LUCERNE FESTIVAL on August 20, 2012.
Performer Biography
James Gaffigan, the conductor on this album, won first prize at the 2004 Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition and is Chief Conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester.
Performer Biography
Hans Christoph Begemann, the baritone on this recording, won first prize at the International Schubert Competition in Osaka and has sung over 300 Schubert songs.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wolfgang Rihm, a composer with over 400 musical works, aims for his music to be accessible and communicative, focusing on direct emotional experience rather than hermetic concepts.
Compositional Technique
Wolfgang Rihm's Symphony 'Nähe fern' engages in a dialogue with Brahms's four symphonies, incorporating echoes of their harmonies, motifs, and characters without direct quotation.
Composition History
Wolfgang Rihm's Symphony 'Nähe fern' (Distant Proximity) was commissioned by the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and the LUCERNE FESTIVAL.
Instruments
In 'Nähe fern 4', the trumpets leave the stage mid-piece and play the closing section offstage, creating a sense of distant sound.
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