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Bavarian Radio Chorus Debuts New Choral Works by Wolfgang Rihm

Mar. 01, 2017

Bavarian Radio Chorus Debuts New Choral Works by Wolfgang Rihm

"I go slowly from the world / into a landscape beyond all distance" – Hans Sahl, from Strophen

This haunting line from the poem Strophen by Hans Sahl sets the stage for Wolfgang Rihm’s new evening-length choral work Requiem-Strophen, one of two major choral works by Rihm to premiere this month in Munich.

On March 11, Rupert Huber leads the Bavarian Radio Chorus in the first performance of Rihm’s Missa Brevis—a new 20-minute a cappella choral work—at the Prinzregententheater in Munich.

Following the premiere of Missa Brevis, Mariss Jansons leads the Bavarian Radio Chorus along with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in the world premiere of Rihm’s Requiem-Strophen on March 30 and 31. The 80-minute piece is scored for solo voices (sopranos Mojca Erdmann and Anna Prohaska, and baritone Hanno Müller-Brachmann), mixed choir, and orchestra.

Rather than following the traditional liturgy of the Mass for the Dead, Rihm has selected a deeply personal set of texts for his setting, including texts by Hans Sahl, Johannes Bobrowski, sonnets by Michelangelo, and a Psalm from the Bible. A subsequent performance of Requiem-Strophen takes place April 8 at the Lucerne Festival’s “Easter Festival” in Lucerne, Switzerland, which also includes a performance of Rihm’s recent Gruß-Moment 2.

For more information on Wolfgang Rihm, visit universaledition.com.

Wolfgang Rihm
Missa Brevis (2015)
for SATB choir a cappella
text (Lat) from the traditional Mass
20’

Requiem-Strophen (2015-2016)
for solo voices, mixed choir and orchestra
texts by Johannes Bobrowski, Hans Sahl, Michelangelo, and the Bible
2(1.afl; 2.afl, pic).2(2.ca).2(2.bcl).2(2.cbsn)-2.2.2.1-timp.2perc-hp.pno(org)-str
80’

Gruß-Moment 2 (2016)
for orchestra
4.2.0.1-4.0.1.0-timp-hp-str
5’ 

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