Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Foundation Information

July/August 2007

Kurt Masur Gala in

Kurt Masur wanted to enjoy a cheer- king into song. Dukas’ “Sorcerer’s Iris Berben, Kristin Otto, Axel Schulz ful evening with his guests, not too for- Apprentice”, representing Kurt Masur’s and other stars were honoured to mal or too serious, so he asked the enter- current French connection, led into a wish Kurt Masur well on his 80th tainer Harald Schmidt to join him as pre- rich group of encores, ending in Jobim’s birthday. senter in the Leipzig . “Girl from Ipanema”. With this last Politics were also represented; piece Kurt Masur nodded to Rio de Federal Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, The early birthday concert (the Janeiro, where he had got to know his the Prime Minister of Georg Maestro will be 80 on 18 July) told the wife Tomoko. Milbradt, the Lord Mayor of Leipzig musical story of the impressive stages Burkhard Jung among others came to in a musician’s rich life – relaxed and As anticipated, emotions ran high offer their congratulations. humorous with Otto Nicolai’s “Merry during evening, so Harald Schmidt’s One could see that the Maestro felt Wives of Windsor”, and with Stanilaw presentation always found a way of at ease on the platform of the Gewand- Moniuszko’s “Halka” whose Mazurka making us laugh and feel relaxed. haus, with “his” orchestra and “his” reminded us of the Maestro’s origins public, who understand him so well, and name. It was no surprise that Among the guests whom Kurt Masur and who also appreciated the aim of Brahms (Liebeslieder waltzes) and had invited were many friends, inclu- the evening to support the Felix Dvorak (2nd Slavonic Dance) were ding Kofi Annan, Kurt Biedenkopf and Mendelssohn Bartholdy Foundation and represented in the programme, since Armin Müller-Stahl. its ambitions. he had always given fresh wings to the works of these composers in his Leipzig time. Naturally at the heart of the pro- gramme was Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, outstandingly interpreted by Anne-Sophie Mutter, who kept the audience enraptured so that they did not want her to leave the platform. Tchaikovsky welcomed us with his glorious “Italian Capriccio”. Masur’s American period was reflected by Bernstein (West Side Story) and Gershwin (Porgy and Bess), where Harald Schmidt surprised us by brea-

Members of the Kuratorium Supporters’ Circle Friends’ Circle Dr. Wulff Aengevelt Tomoko Masur und Prof. Kurt Masur Dr. Jürgen Friedel Hélène Mercier-Arnault Ulrike Krill de Capello Prof. Hermann Rauhe Karin Martin Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee Dr. Clauss Riedberg Emiko Tsuji Heide Schwarzweller Elisabeth Augereau Kurt Viermetz Dr. Undine Thofern Elke Weber-Braun

S. 2 Kurt Masur Gala

Title: Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Orchestra of the Gewandhaus under Maestro Kurt Masur’s direction – it was a special experience to hear their inter- pretation of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in the Leipzig Gewandhaus.

Picture above: The actors Iris Berben and Armin Müller Stahl as honorary guests of the Kurt Masur Gala; the Lord Mayor of Leipzig Burkhard Jung and his wife (right) came to offer their congratula- tions, too.

This public quickly showed its where more than 4,000 Leipzigers and purpose – the musical education of enthusiasm; within a few hours of the their guests had gathered to follow the young people. announcement to a selected circle, the Gala on the giant screen. concert was sold out, and at handsome The Maestro thanked everyone, and ticket prices which are usually only An astonishing number of young in return for the great pleasure gave seen in Leipzig for performances by people came and experienced the them a celebration full of joy and famous rock stars. evening sitting on rugs or mats and harmony, although also not without The public deserves warm thanks saw; how Kofi Annan strode along the the serious moments, which belong for its spontaneous help, for the red carpet into the Gewandhaus; how together when one looks back over a support which it demonstrated even Kurt Masur spurred on his orchestral life of 80 years dedicated to work and during the preparatory work, and for musicians in the hall with “Jungs, gebt art. the love for music which was clearly Feuer!”; how Harald Schmidt recited felt in the hall. Goethe’s “Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, and heard Anne-Sophie Mutter honour Because so many people were so Maestro Kurt Masur as “an absolute Kofi Annan – one of the honorary guests of this disappointed not to be able to get giant”, which the Master once more special evening. tickets for the evening, the Gala orga- proved at this evening. nisers quickly decided to erect a giant screen in the Augustusplatz. A direct Whether in the hall or in the transmission of the concert allowed Augustusplatz, the guests were united; many more music-lovers to join in the this was a successful concert, where Gala, which had been highlighted by the magical joy and lightness was felt Megalight posters throughout the city. directly by the people, who came to honour with many musical friends the There was a lively festival atmos- great conductor on his birthday, and phere in the crowded Augustusplatz, also to raise money for a meaningful

Kurt Masur Gala S. 3

Mendelssohn Prize Gala Dinner and more music

Kurt Masur After the concert some 250 guests, was presented including prominent representatives of with the first culture, politics and business, were Mendelssohn invited to a Gala Dinner in the Mendels- Prize of the City of sohn Hall. Leipzig in 2007 in recognition of his Various companies, but also many life’s work and his private donors, had made possible this services to Felix convivial late-night gathering, at which Mendelssohn Kofi Annan spoke. “He had much more Bartholdy. With success than I – he brought musicians the words “the and nations together. It was actually City of Leipzig harder for him – I had words, and he bows to you”, at had only music”. Annan praised his the end of the friend Kurt Masur, whom he described three-hour con- as a “unique gift for music”. cert Leipzig Lord Mayor Burkhard Federal Transport Minister Tiefensee Jung presented delighted the birthday boy with a sere- the celebrant with the newly created nade on his ‘cello, and later the “Prinzen” prize, which will now be given yearly went onto the stage and offered their to worthy recipients. cheerful musical congratulations.

The prize is a miniature replica of The Maestro himself accompanied the statue created by Jo Jastram, which the festive guests on the piano, as they originally stood in front of the enthusiastically sang German Volks- Gewandhaus and is now in the Foyer lieder late into the night. This was Kurt of the Mendelssohn Hall. Masur’s wish, as he is convinced that singing makes society happier and at Jung expressed his great thanks to one with itself. the Maestro, saying “ I could not ima- Outside and behind the stage: It’s all ready – waiting for the guests; gine any more worthy first recipient of last advices for the security staff; this prize”. He also expressed the desi- also crowd in the kitchen, but good mood re that Mendelssohn should find the importance in the world which Masur wished for him. One saw the energetic champion of Mendelssohn give a happy and satisfied nod, since natural- ly such a prize, when awarded annual- ly and in honour of internationally respected personalities, will be heeded way beyond the city boundaries.

The far from weary public watched with enthusiasm the prize-giving, for which Kurt Masur gave touching thanks “I am and was happy here”. The Kurt Masur Gala added another important memory to many beautiful other memo- ries.

Let there be more Galas and many worthy prize-winners!

S. 4 Names and Facts

London Birthday Celebrations On the actual day of his 80th birthday, 18 July 2007, Maestro Kurt Masur will conduct “his” two orchestras, the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestre National de France, in a Prom concert before a capacity audience of 5,000 people in London’s Royal Albert Hall. The programme will consist of two works dear to the Maestro, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, and Bruckner’s 7th Symphony, and will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Three. On the evening before, Lady Maiko Rothermere will host a black tie dinner for invited guests in historic Spencer House. After the concert the French Ambassador in London, Gérard Errera, will invite the members of both orchestras to a Reception in his Residence, when he will confer on the Maestro the “Grand Officier de la Légion d’Honneur”.

Sponsors and supporters since December 2006 Imprint Aengevelt Immobilien KG Frau Tomoko und Herr Prof. Kurt Masur American Association of Mendelssohn Mendelssohn Kikin Nihoushibu, Tokio Foundation, New York Frau Marlene und Herr Thomas Müller Frau Käte Andersen Neue Presse Verlags GmbH Frau Elisabeth Augereau Herr Dr. Marwan Nuwayhid Baerlocher GmbH Herr Dr. Jürgen Ringbeck » President: Prof. Kurt Masur Frau Caroline und Herr Matthias Bauer Frau Sigrid Röder » Chairman Lord Mayor Frau Ann-Kathrin Bauknecht Frau Sigrun Rudolph of the Board: Burkhard Jung Herr Dieter Blaskiewitz Russ KG » Substitute: Dr. Georg Girardet Frau Dr. Rosemarie Blatz Sand Profile GmbH » Board: Dr. Peter Krüger Frau Renate Bleich Herr Arne von Scheffler Prof. Andreas Schulz Herr Joszef Bugovics Herr Gunter Albrecht Schenkel » Members Dr. Werner Martin Frau Ursel und Herr Claes Craesemann Herr Dr. Friedrich-Karl Schieferdecker of the Board: Volker Stiehler Frau Ruth und Herr Desmond Cecil Herr Werner Schlegel » Director: Jürgen Ernst Herr Alexander T. Ercklentz Frau Laila und Herr Max W. Schlereth » Ambassador: Tomoko Masur Frau Jenny Faugerat Frau Irene und » Representative UK: Desmond Cecil (London) Herr Michael Fischer-Art Herr Gerd Schulte-Hillen Address Herr Dr. Walter Willi Franken Frau Dorothea und » Mendelssohn-Haus Leipzig Herr Dr. Bernd Garbe Herr Klaus-Werner Sebbel » Goldschmidtstraße 12, 04103 Leipzig GRK-Holding AG Herr Marc Sievert » Telephone: +49 (0) 341-1 27 02 94 Frau Ortrud Heder Herr Manfred Spindler » Faksimile: +49 (0) 341-2 11 52 88 Frau Dr. Susanne Heiland Frau Friede Springer » E-Mail: [email protected] Frau Ute Herz Frau Elke Stadler » Internet: www.mendelssohn-stiftung.de Herr Volker Hofmann Herr Dr. Martin Steinmeyer » Account: Deutsche Bank Leipzig INA-Holding Schaeffler KG Frau Jill Teege banc code: 860 700 24 Herr Burkhard Jung Herr Wolfram Thost account: 455 56 78 Frau Alexandra Kauka Frau Emiko Tsuji More details Herr Dr. Herbert Krämer Verlag Breitkopf und Härtel KG » Editor and Designer: Herr Peter Krakow Herr Kurt F. Viermetz Christiane Schmidt (responsible) Frau Ulrike Krill de Capello Völker Tiefbau GmbH » Texts: Christiane Schmidt Herr Reiner Lehrmann Frau Kirsten Weitert » English Translation: Desmond Cecil Leipziger Messe GmbH Frau Grit Wüstenhagen » Pictures and illustrations: Jürgen Ernst Löschke und Partner Frau Michaela Jenny Faugerat, Ines Hertel, Christiane Schmidt Herr Kurt Lorenz und Herr Thomas Wylenzek » Print: Fischer Druck, Großpösna Thank-you Gala Committee

Thanks are due to all those who helped towards the realisation and great Tomoko Masur, Chairman success of the Kurt Masur Gala; to the Leipzig Gewandhaus and its staff for its Peggy Knietsch, Christiane Schmidt enthusiastic and friendly co-operation; to the Hotel Marriott with its competent Jürgen Ernst and friendly personnel, to LVMH for the high value donations and to BMW for Ronny Maier the donation and the great shuttle service, particularly to Mrs Tomoko Masur, Karsten Poitz and naturally heartfelt thanks to the audience without whom the finest concert Prof. Andreas Schulz is no pleasure. Willem A. Tell