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US Premiere of Zimmermann’s Cello Concerto en forme de 'pas de trois'

Jan. 03, 2018

US Premiere of Zimmermann’s <em>Cello Concerto en forme de 'pas de trois'</em>

On January 19-21, Susanna Mälkki leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the US premiere of Bernd Alois Zimmermann’s Cello Concerto en forme de 'pas de trois' with Robert deMaine as the soloist. The dance-musical collaboration was commissioned by the LA Phil and features new choreography from Tero Saarinen, performed by members of his company. The creative team includes lighting designer Mikki Kunttu, costume designer Erika Turunen, and assistant choreographer Sini Länsivori.

The Tero Saarinen Dance Company was founded in 1996 by dancer-choreographer Tero Saarinen with a mission “to promote a humane worldview and basic human values through the language of dance, while also increasing people’s understanding of their own physicality and its significance for a good life.” They have won wide acclaim for their performances which have spanned nearly forty countries, and have collaborated with many prominent dance companies including the Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT1), the Batsheva Dance Company, Lyon Opéra Ballet and the Finnish National Ballet.

Zimmermann’s four-movement Cello Concerto en forma de 'pas de trois' premiered in 1968 by the Sinfonieorchester des SWF led by Ernest Bour, with Sigfried Palm as the soloist with choreography by Ivan Sertic. Thus, it may be considered both an instrumental concerto and ballet music with the three actors in this pas de trois being the solo cello, the orchestra, and the dancers. Notably, the composition employs several instruments rarely used in customary orchestral forces including mandolin, cimbalom, and glass harp.



(Zimmermann's Cello Concerto en forme de 'pas de trois'/SWF Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden/Michael Gielen, conductor/Heinrich Schiff, violoncello)

Bernd Alois Zimmermann

Cello Concerto en forme de 'pas de trois' (1966)
3(3.pic).3(2, 3.Ob. d’am).3(3.bcl).asax(ssax).3(3.cbsn)-2.2(cornett in B).2.1-timp.5perc-gtr(egtr).mand.hp.pno(cemb).glasharm(cel).zimbal-str
24’

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