Zimmermann: Violin Concerto, Photoptosis, Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony

Featuring

Hannu Lintu
Leila Josefowicz
Anu Komsi
Jeni Packalen
Hilary Summers
Peter Tantsits

Ville Rusanen
Juha Uusitalo
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Bernd Alois Zimmermann

Did you know?

1/7

Compositional Technique

The organ, a favored instrument for Zimmermann, is used in Photoptosis to symbolize and instantiate processes of plurality coming together as one, compressing the intensity of Mahler's entire oeuvre into a single movement.

Compositional Technique

The Fantasia movement of the Violin Concerto is Zimmermann's first use of dodecaphony, a twelve-tone compositional method, and incorporates the Dies irae plainchant.

Compositional Technique

Photoptosis, a work for large orchestra, was inspired by Yves Klein's painting of a foyer and features an opening that oscillates around the semitone D-E-flat.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Bernd Alois Zimmermann, the composer, believed we exist simultaneously on many different levels of time and experience, and that we eventually feel at home in this network of countless threads.

Composition History

The Vocal Symphony from the opera Die Soldaten was created by Zimmermann from existing operatic material after the opera's planned 1960 premiere was cancelled.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Zimmermann defined the setting of his opera Die Soldaten, and by extension its Vocal Symphony, as 'yesterday, today, and tomorrow', emphasizing pluralism in simultaneity.

Compositional Technique

Zimmermann's Violin Concerto features a 'polystylistic riot' in its opening Sonata movement, incorporating elements from Stravinsky, blues music, and more.