C WIE COURAGE

Few concerts embody the festival motto as directly as “C wie Courage.”

Ildikó Szabó and Jens Peter Maintz – both distinguished soloists and members of the faculty for the cello masterclasses – devote their programme to three artists who left a lasting mark on the cello in the 20th century: Emanuel Feuermann, Jacqueline du Pré and Mstislav Rostropovich. Their lives tell stories of persecution, illness, artistic daring and personal integrity.

The concert opens with the world premiere of “C wie …” by Iranian composer Sarvenaz Safari. Works by Bach, Ligeti, Brahms and Prokofiev then unfold a panorama of the cello repertoire spanning the Baroque era to the modern age.

Together with Itamar Carmeli, Szabó and Maintz create a concert about memory and inspiration – and about the ways in which artistic conviction is passed from one generation to the next.

Please note: Contrary to the originally announced line-up, Ildikó Szabó will perform in place of Marie-Elisabeth Hecker and Frans Helmerson, and Itamar Carmeli will perform in place of Martin Helmchen.