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US and World Premieres of Works by Herbert Willi at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Sep. 27, 2012

US and World Premieres of Works by Herbert Willi at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

During October and November, the music of Austrian composer Herbert Willi is featured prominently by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. From October 12 through 14, the orchestra, joined by the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, offers the US premiere of ABBA-MA (Echo of Peace), conducted by Manfred Honeck. The six-minute work for chorus and orchestra, which premiered in April 2011, was commissioned for the opening concert of Germany’s 2011 Saar Music Festival. Conductor Christoph Poppen led the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern and the National Choir of Korea. The work is a fervent invocation to human beings reminding us of our intergral role in Creation and calling for the embrace of a peaceful world. The composer shares his thoughts on the work:

“Listen! Feel! Let it happen! Consent! Embrace it! Peace has come to you! You are peace now! An Echo of Peace!” In my composition, these dramatic events are expressed through the musical setting of ‘Our Father’ (Our Abba-Ma) in the past tense. For the listener, change, or new creation, happens in the sung word and in the music. The sung ABBA-MA turns each listener into the Echo of Peace. I aim to take the listener on an inner journey heralding joy, trust in the future and striving for a peaceful world.”

Shortly afterwards, Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony begin their 2012 European tour, where on November 1, they perform ABBA-MA in Vienna as part of the orchestra’s week-long residency at the Musikverein Festival. The concert also features the world premiere of Willi’s new violin concerto Sacrosanto, played by soloist Nikolaj Znaider.

Learn more on the life and music fo Herbert Willi at www.schott-music.com.

Herbert Willi
ABBA-MA (Echo of Peace) (2011)
for chorus and orchestra
pic.2.1.ca.2.bcl.2-4.3.2.btbn.1-timp.3-4perc-str
6’

Sacrosanto (2011-12)
for solo violin and orchestra
pic.1.1.ca.2.bcl.ssax.2-2.2.2.1-timp.3perc-hp.acc.pno.cel.str
20'

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