WaterworksTour 2017

Baltic Sea Philharmonic Welcome

We are delighted to welcome you to our ‘Waterworks’ tour. We thrive on making connections – with you our audiences, and with our fellow artists. And there is nothing that connects every one of us more than water. It is the essence of all life, and for us in the Baltic Sea Philharmonic, it is also the engine of our region, shaping our environment, and linking all the home countries of our players. On this tour we celebrate these elemental connections, and we also honour the American composer Philip Glass in his 80th birthday year.

Such celebrations call for a truly special concert experience and we are excited to introduce with this tour a ground-breaking spectacle that fuses music, fashion, lighting design, visual art and choreography. We hope you will be thrilled by what you see, moved by what you hear, and inspired, like us, to seek out a deeper connection to different countries and cultures, and to the natural world that we all depend on. Source

The origin of ‘Waterworks’ lies in how nature connects all of us Find out about this tour’s inspiration, our concert schedule and the music you will Sea Change 06 be hearing

We are transforming the concert experience Step into a new world of light, sound, visual art and fashion, as we shake up performance conventions 28

14 Wave Riders Our dynamic leader and performers are inspiring the next generation Discover Kristjan Järvi’s vision for the Baltic Sea Philharmonic, and meet our soloist and 22 musicians

Flow

Bringing people together is our constant motivation Follow our journey from pioneering youth orchestra to international movement for unity 04 05 Source From the Baltic to the Amazon

Let the music of ‘Waterworks’ take you on an inspirational journey

From its earliest days, the Baltic Sea The music represents how we are from school concerts for more than 7,000 Philharmonic has always been uniting this region, but are also connected to the teenage pupils, some of whom may people. Every year our musicians come whole world. It doesn’t matter whether it’s never have heard symphonic music being together from the ten countries of the Baltic the waters of the Baltic or the Amazon: performed live. And Aarhus, on the east Sea region, an area that was historically everything is connected.’ coast of Denmark, welcomes us for the first divided. And as an ambassador for Nordic time, as it celebrates its year as European culture, we reach out to other nations and As we mark Philip Glass’s 80th birthday Capital of Culture. people around the world with our music. year, alongside Aguas da Amazonia we Beyond music and culture, what unites perform another of his nature-themed ʻIt doesn’t matter whether it’s the us in the Baltic Sea Philharmonic is our compositions, the Violin Concerto No. 2 waters of the Baltic or the connection to nature and to the landscapes The American Four Seasons, for which Amazon: everything is connected’ of our region, and nothing shapes our we are delighted to welcome back the natural environment more than the Baltic dynamic Russian-born violinist Mikhail Simonyan. We also welcome musicians of We return to the Konzerthaus in Berlin, Sea itself. With ‘Waterworks’ we celebrate the New York-based Absolute Ensemble, where we play in the Young Euro Classic not just the life-giving essence of water, who will be embedded in the Baltic Sea festival, and to Peenemünde on the Baltic but also the Baltic Sea – that great body of Philharmonic on this tour. But they are not Sea island of Usedom, where our story water which sustains our region and joins our only collaborators for ‘Waterworks’. began back in 2008. Our ‘Waterworks’ us to all the other water in the world. Sound designer Chris Ekers, lighting journey also takes us back 500 years when designer Bertil Mark, projection artist we visit Martin Luther’s city of Wittenberg The music of ‘Waterworks’ is inspired by Philipp Geist and a brilliant technical team in Germany, where we perform an open- water and its power to bind us together, have joined us to create a truly immersive air concert as part of celebrations to mark as Kristjan Järvi, Music Director of the concert experience, fusing music, fashion, half a millennium since the Reformation. Baltic Sea Philharmonic, explains: ‘Our sound, light and images to magical effect. And we end our tour with another first programme starts with Handel’s Water This show marks a new stage in our journey – a performance in Hamburg’s new Music, because as Handel was born in as an orchestra, and we are thrilled to be Elbphilharmonie, a fitting final destination Germany he was originally part of our Baltic sharing it for the first time with you. with its gleaming wave-topped facade compositional fabric, and it brings us all mirroring the movement of water in the the way down to the waters of the Amazon, Transforming the concert experience is harbour it overlooks. with Philip Glass’s Aguas da Amazonia. an exciting departure for the Baltic Sea Philharmonic, but this tour also takes From the Baltic to the Amazon, from the us back, to people and places we have Danish coast to the Elbe, our journey connected with so strongly in the past. through the waters of the world shows we Returning to Copenhagen, we continue are all connected. We hope you enjoy riding our commitment to education by presenting the waves with us!

Source 08 09 Waterworks Tour

Baltic Sea Philharmonic Kristjan Järvi Mikhail Simonyan

George Frideric Handel May 2017 School concerts May 2017 (1685 – 1759) / Daniel Schnyder (1961) / 5 May 2017, 7.00 pm George Frideric Handel 8 May 2017, 9.00 am, 11.00 am, 1.00 pm Charles Coleman (1968) Hattingen (LWL-Industriemuseum (1685 – 1759) / Copenhagen (DR Concert Hall), Water Music Henrichshütte), Daniel Schnyder (1961) / Denmark Germany Charles Coleman (1968) Philip Glass (1937) Water Music 10 May 2017, 9.00 am, 11.00 am, 1.00 pm Violin Concerto No. 2 7 May 2017, 3.00 pm Aarhus (Musikhuset Århus), ‘The American Four Seasons’ Copenhagen (DR Concert Hall), Philip Glass (1937) Denmark Denmark Aguas da Amazonia Philip Glass (1937) orchestrated by Aguas da Amazonia 9 May 2017, 7.00 pm Charles Coleman (excerpts) orchestrated by Aarhus (Musikhuset Århus), Charles Coleman Denmark

August 2017

25 August 2017, 8.00 pm Young Euro Classic (Berlin, Konzerthaus), Germany

26 August 2017, 8.00 pm Usedom Music Festival (Kraftwerk Museum Peenemünde, Island of Usedom), Germany

27 August 2017, 6.00 pm Lutherstadt Wittenberg (open air – Reformation Summer, Schlossplatz), Germany

29 August 2017, 8.00 pm Hamburg (Elbphilharmonie), Germany

Source 10 11 Listening Guide

Our water-inspired programme embraces Baroque splendours and minimalist wonders

‘The principle of all things is water; Handel’s original composition to create a everything comes from water and version of Water Music that reveals new everything returns to water.’ These words perspectives on the famous old piece. from the philosopher, mathematician and astronomer Thales of Miletus (c.624 BC – The US composer Philip Glass, who is c.547 BC) show how essential water was celebrating his 80th birthday in 2017, is for the ancient Greeks – an importance that one of the most prominent representatives is just as great for our civilisation today. of minimalism, although he prefers to Without water, there would be no life on describe himself as a composer of ‘music our blue planet, nor would there be any of with repetitive structures’. Conceived in its magnifi cent mountains. So this natural the 1960s by Glass, Steve Reich, Terry element must be protected. The Baltic Sea Riley and La Monte Young, minimalism Philharmonic reminds us of this idea with its is characterised by repeated melodic Aguas da Amazonia was ‘Waterworks’ programme. and rhythmic patterns. It often uses originally conceived for a electronic instruments and effects such dance company One of the most popular pieces featuring as the synthesizer and tape loops. It is the element of water is George Frideric also infl uenced by non-Western traditions: and synthesizer. The music contains music for some time when he came across Handel’s Water Music. It was composed Glass found inspiration in Indian music, many references to Vivaldi’s Baroque it again on CD and was inspired by the idea for King George I of Great Britain, whom particularly the work of Ravi Shankar. tonal language, which can be regarded of an orchestration. He also noticed that his Handel had known earlier as the Elector of as a precursor of minimalism owing to its own children found the music wonderful. Hanover. The music, or at least part of it, Glass composed his Second Violin repeating patterns. The concerto thrives So he called Glass and asked for his was fi rst performed to accompany George Concerto for the US violinist Robert above all on its memorable melodies, permission to adapt the piece. Kristjan and his entourage on a royal cruise along McDuffi e, who premiered it in December which have a truly magical radiance despite Järvi’s close friend, the composer Charles the River Thames on the evening of 17 July 2009 with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. their considerable brevity, while its fl owing Coleman, produced the arrangement, 1717. Taken together, the 22 movements of Conceived as a counterpart to Vivaldi’s rhythms are reminiscent of the movement transcribing the cycle for classical Water Music create a spectacular Baroque Four Seasons, the four-movement concerto of water. orchestra. ‘The music is so pure and well experience. The lavishly instrumented is titled ‘The American Four Seasons’, but structured that it was literally crying out for music was later structured into three Glass leaves it up to the listener to decide The subsequent Glass suite Aguas da a different kind of presentation,’ Charles suites, and is especially appropriate for which movement represents which season. Amazonia takes us to South America. The Coleman explained. The premiere was arrangements, as Daniel Schnyder’s The 40-minute concerto begins with a music, which is infl uenced by folklore, jazz given in March 2016 by the MDR Leipzig ‘Water Music Overture’ and Charles Prologue for the soloist and is punctuated and New Age elements, was produced in Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Coleman’s ‘Drenched’ both show. These by three ‘songs’ for unaccompanied violin, the 1990s for the experimental Brazilian Kristjan Järvi, who considers Glass to be contemporary pieces were inspired by which helps loosen the structure. As is group UAKTI. Originally, the numbers were ‘one of the greatest musical pioneers’. classical and pop music, and Kristjan Järvi typical for American minimalist composers, conceived for a dance company in Belo has combined them with selections from the instrumentation combines strings Horizonte. Kristjan Järvi had known the

Source 12 13 Wave Riders Architect of change Kristjan Järvi thrives on reshaping the orchestral experience for performers and audiences alike In 2016 Kristjan became an official member of the Estonian Olympic committee, marking ‘I want to create transformational The collective energy of the Absolute the first time this position was not filled by environments,’ says Kristjan Järvi. This Ensemble carries through to the Baltic Sea a sportsperson or government official. His mission is not confined to the concert hall Philharmonic, where Kristjan sees himself initiative ‘Sound Estonia’ aims to promote and the way technology and visual art as part of the orchestra, and not an the connection between, and importance of, can transform the audience experience. archetypal leader. ‘I don’t want to lead from a healthy body and mind. It also extends to his vision of how an outside and say “Follow me,”’ he says. ‘I’m orchestra can enrich the lives of its players someone who makes music with them, and As a recording artist Kristjan has more than and embolden them to change the it just happens to be my job to stand in front 60 albums to his credit, from Hollywood world around them. Kristjan’s ambition of them.’ Though there is no denying his soundtracks such as ‘Cloud Atlas’ and to make this a reality with the Baltic dynamism as a conductor; the New York award-winning albums on Sony Classical Sea Philharmonic has never wavered in Times hailed him as ‘a kinetic force on the and Chandos, to his eponymous series: the nearly ten years as Music Director, yet podium, like Leonard Bernstein reborn’. Biography: ‘Kristjan Järvi Sound Project.’ Launched the entrepreneurial drive and leadership Kristjan has ‘earned a reputation as one in 2014, the series features projects across needed to make it happen have been with 'Music is something that flips of the canniest, and most innovative, all of his ensembles and is characterised by him far longer. a switch in all of us' programmers on the classical scene.’ his unmistakable approach of taking a fresh [Reuters] look at the old. In 1993, as a 21-year-old graduate of For Kristjan, however, everybody in the the Manhattan School of Music, Kristjan Baltic Sea Philharmonic has an equal He realises his pioneering ideas with his Kristjan continues to work with some of founded the Absolute Ensemble, a band presence and importance. Instilling a four ensembles: as Music Director of the today’s brightest creative minds, from film that brings together jazz, hip-hop, electro- feeling of true equality is liberating for the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra directors Tom Tykwer and the Wachowskis, acoustic, classical and other musical players, he says, and encourages an and the Gstaad Festival Orchestra, as to composers and artists Arvo Pärt, Steve styles. This boundary-busting group, three entrepreneurial spirit, the feeling that Founder-Conductor of his New York-based Reich, Tan Dun, Hauschka and Esa-Pekka members of which are joining the Baltic anything is possible. ‘I’m not preaching classical-hip-hop-jazz group Absolute Salonen, with whom he started his career Sea Philharmonic on its ‘Waterworks’ tour, to them, but gently raising their Ensemble, and as Founding Conductor as Assistant Conductor at the Los Angeles has created its own distinctive sound. consciousness. They are the ones taking and Music Director of the Baltic Sea Philharmonic. And the band’s evolution has been driven the change to another level,’ he says. ‘The Philharmonic. An entrepreneur by nature not only by Kristjan’s omnivorous musical brilliance of music is that it’s not like religion and a passionate producer, Kristjan runs Born in Estonia, Kristjan emigrated to the tastes, but also by his encouragement of or politics, where you have to tell people his own production company, Sunbeam United States as a child and grew up in New the group’s members to improvise, arrange what to believe and what to do. Whether as Productions, creating new experiences that York City. He is an accomplished pianist and compose. performers or members of the audience, combine music, visual art, lighting design and graduated from Manhattan School of music is something that flips a switch in all and technology with innovative concepts, to Music followed by conducting studies at the of us.’ take audiences on a unique journey. University of Michigan.

Wave Riders 16 17 Violinist and visionary Mikhail Simonyan combines life as an international soloist with a talent for spearheading cultural and social projects

Mikhail Simonyan’s career has taken some The violinist finds a special freedom too in exciting turns since 2011, when he last Glass’s Violin Concerto No. 2. The music’s toured with the Baltic Sea Philharmonic, repetition of themes and phrases offers or the Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic as it huge opportunities to create a singular was then. As well as performing concertos interpretation, he says, but that same with leading orchestras around the world, freedom makes the piece challenging: he has created and led a youth orchestra ‘In a way it makes your soul quite naked, in Russia, and become president of a because people can judge what kind of new international cultural and educational person you are by how you shape the music foundation. For an artist still in his early and play the phrases.’ thirties, such entrepreneurial credentials say a lot about his character and As he reunites with Kristjan and the Baltic charisma. ‘Some musicians are happy just Sea Philharmonic, Mikhail is acutely playing in an orchestra, or travelling the conscious that the orchestra’s message globe as soloists,’ he says, ‘but if you want of unity and international cooperation to create your own team, and build an army remains a vital one: ‘Political bridges have of great people around you, you just have to been burned across the Baltic region, but Biography: Concertgebouw, and the Great Hall of the go ahead and do it.’ we will always be neighbours. The cultural Born in Novosibirsk in 1985, Mikhail Moscow Conservatory; and played with the bond between our countries can never be started violin lessons at the age of five. He world’s best orchestras, including the New 'If you want to create your own broken, and the Baltic Sea Philharmonic is played his first solo concert at New York’s York Philharmonic, the London Symphony team, you just have to do it' making that bond stronger.’ The healing Lincoln Center at the age of 13, and made Orchestra, Austria’s Tonkünstler Orchestra, power of music is something Mikhail has his Carnegie Hall debut in 2000. In 2001 and the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. Mikhail shares a natural talent for seen first-hand, when he set up a project to Leonard Slatkin invited him to perform with leadership with Kristjan Järvi, one of his support the Afghanistan National Institute America’s National Symphony Orchestra In 2014 Mikhail created and led the Kaluga closest friends and collaborators. The two of Music in battle-scarred Kabul. He would at the 30th anniversary of the Kennedy Youth Symphony Orchestra in Russia. A have worked together often since meeting like to see more young musicians taking Center in Washington, DC; and in 2002 he year later he became president of the Open in 1999, notably partnering for the violinist’s up social, educational and charitable entertained guests at the World Economic Sea Cultural and Educational Programmes 2011 Deutsche Grammophon recording of initiatives. ‘These kind of projects are far Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on the Foundation, which supports more than the Khachaturian and Barber concertos. more important than signing a record deal,’ invitation of Yehudi Menuhin. a dozen cultural projects in Russia and ‘Kristjan is like no other conductor,’ says he says. ‘You’re investing your talent, time abroad. The Foundation is particularly Mikhail. ‘There is a freedom about his way and passion to reach a much broader range Currently Mikhail spends most of his time active in international cultural cooperation, of making music that I love. The whole of society, an audience that will never judge touring Russia and abroad. He has worked and one of its most significant projects is a process of rehearsing and performing is so you for what you’re doing, but will love you with such conductors as Valery Gergiev, unique semi-staged interpretation of Bizet’s alive with him.’ for doing it.’ Mikhail Pletnev, Kristjan Järvi and Cristian Carmen, uniting performers from Russia, Măcelaru; performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lithuania, Ukraine and Ossetia.

Wave Riders 18 19 Our musicians

Violin Cello Trumpet Absolute Ensemble Vida Bobin-Sokolowska (Poland) Lydia Eriksson (Finland) José Ángel Toscano Fernández (Germany) Mat Fieldes (Electric bass) Tatiana Dvortsova (Russia) Zuzanna Filipek (Poland) Märt Metsla (Estonia) Charlie Porter (Trumpet) Daniele De Vecchi (Germany) Tarmo Hiis (Estonia) David Rozenblatt (Percussion) Ilze Gagaine (Latvia) Martin Mänd (Estonia) Trombone Nadiia Goncharenko (Germany) Victor Necludov (Sweden) Mattias Johansson (Sweden) Team Baltic Sea Music Education Leila Hairova (Latvia) Tomasz Szewczyk (Poland) Jüri Leek (Estonia) Foundation Dita Immermane (Latvia) Linda Reinhardt (Germany) Thomas Hummel (Executive Director) Kseniia Ivakina (Russia) Double Bass Jutta Loosen (Communications Director) Augusta Jusionyte (Lithuania)* Miranda Erlich (Finland) Tuba Rita Sosedow (Production Manager) Yuliya Kazimirovich (Poland) Eduard Gadea Salom (Sweden) Ludwig Angerhöfer (Germany) Danielle Griffin (Music Librarian) Malwina Kulisiewicz (Poland) Dusan Kostic (Germany) Katharina Blum (Project Assistant) Tatiana Kuvaitceva (Russia) Milosz Madejski (Poland) Piano Katherina Kokkinos (Project Assistant) Marzena Malinowska (Poland) Gabriele Bekeryte (Lithuania) Katharina Wickel (Project Assistant) Erika Melnicuka (Latvia) Flute Alexander Datz (Press Officer) Jan Mleczko (Poland) Kristine Beitika (Latvia) Percussion Peter Somerford (Editor) Evgenia Pavlova (Russia) Kaisa Kortelainen (Finland) Denis Iakovlev (Russia) Peter Adamik (Photographer) Anna Trukhina (Russia) Alberto Rodriguez Rodriguez (Norway) Oliver Kietzmann (Ass. to Executive Mari-Liis Urb (Estonia) Oboe Sergio Sande Casal (Norway) Director) Anna Walek (Poland) Hannah Baumann (Germany) Alexander Lampl (Stage Manager) Laura Zimka (Latvia) Seokyeon Brian Kang (Germany) *Principals Markus Linke (Stage Manager)

Viola Clarinet Nils Biesewig (Germany) Alexey Mikhaylenko (Russia)* Aleksandr Dubitsa (Estonia) Fatima Trives Escolano (Denmark) Viktoria Orlova (Russia) Marina Paccagnan (Germany) Bassoon Maximilian Procop (Germany) Jakob Peäske (Estonia) Pedro Vásquez Ordenes (Finland) Arseniy Shkaptsov (Russia)* Agnieszka Zyniewicz (Poland) French Horn Cesar Cabanero Martinez (Germany) Victor Cosio Lanza (Germany) Mikus Runka (Latvia) Grigory Yakubovich (Russia)

Wave Riders 20 21 Flow Fearless and free

The Baltic Sea Philharmonic is on a journey to open hearts and minds

‘Flow’ is a word that Kristjan Järvi keeps the cooperation between Baltic Sea nations Philharmonic, the orchestra performed free-flowing and unhindered, so that coming back to when describing his work than by bringing together the best young in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland everyone in the concert hall has the feeling with the Baltic Sea Philharmonic. For musicians from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, and Russia in April, on its ‘Baltic Sea that anything is possible.’ him, it sums up the ideal state of being for Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Landscapes’ tour with pianist Alexander orchestral musicians: ‘It’s a shared creative Poland, Russia and Sweden. Toradze. The ‘Baltic Sea Discovery’ tour ‘We’re creating a movement energy, an unbreakable feeling of being of Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Denmark that brings people together’ together. It’s the freedom that comes when ‘Right from the first concert of the newly and Germany in September featured everyone is communicating and playing inaugurated Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic, collaborations with Gidon Kremer and the That the musicians are ready to take this instinctively, with no fear or insecurities, in Riga in 2008, it was clear that here was Kremerata Baltica. In the same month, next step is thanks to the dedicated work when everybody is tapped into one flow.’ an orchestra with a powerful message’, Sony Classical released the orchestra’s that Kristjan and his team of international says Thomas. Audiences felt it immediately, recording of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. As the coaches have done to develop the players’ This idea of connectedness is central and politicians recognised its importance year ended, the Baltic Sea Philharmonic professional skills and expand their musical to ‘Waterworks’, with its music linking too. As the orchestra’s reputation spread, it debuted a ground-breaking fusion of music, horizons. Training and education have the Baltic Sea to the far-off waters of began regular tours, and was soon playing lighting design and projection art at a always been at the heart of the Baltic Sea the Amazon. It is moreover the defining at the most prestigious concert halls and Christmas concert in Vienna’s Konzerthaus. Philharmonic mission, and the intensive philosophy behind the Baltic Sea festivals in Europe, and performing with the camps that take place before each tour are Philharmonic, in its mission to unite world’s finest soloists. In 2012 and 2013 In Kristjan’s eyes, 2016 was a time of the biggest, but by no means the only, part musicians and communities, and Kurt Masur conducted the orchestra at the transition, with the orchestra establishing a of this effort. The creation in 2013 of the reconnect them with the environment. As Usedom Music Festival. Also in 2012, the new identity and developing its vision of a Baltic Sea Music Education Foundation Kristjan says: ‘We’re creating a movement Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic performed unique form of performance presentation. consolidated a burgeoning education that brings people together from Norway at the Summit of the Council of the Baltic Now in 2017, as ‘Waterworks’ reimagines programme, which included chamber music to Russia. The stronger we all are, the Sea States in Stralsund, on the invitation the concert experience on a level beyond coaching as well as workshops for young stronger we are as a region. Then we can of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, what was pioneered in Vienna, the Baltic conductors and composers. set an example for the whole world.’ who praised the orchestra as ‘a compelling Sea Philharmonic is starting a whole new example of using music as a powerful adventure. It’s as if, to borrow the theme Underpinning all this training is the For nearly ten years the Baltic Sea medium for cooperation and integration of ‘Waterworks’, the river journey of the last knowledge that today’s young generation Philharmonic has been a beacon for unity across borders’. In 2015 its achievements decade is ending, and a voyage out into will be the musicians and educators to in a historically divided region. Its story were honoured with the prestigious the ocean is just beginning. Kristjan has inspire the next generation. Nowhere is started in 2008 on the resort island of European Culture Prize by the European ambitious plans for the musicians in 2017: this more evident than with the orchestra’s Usedom, off the northern edge of Germany. Culture Foundation ‘Pro Europe’. ‘This year we want to start a completely new continuing participation in Danish Radio’s Thomas Hummel, the Director of the process of ownership and entrepreneurism, ground-breaking ‘Into the Music’ project, Usedom Music Festival, wanted to create In 2016 the orchestra’s growing desire to which is ingrained not only in our fusion of which in 2015 began presenting symphonic a new multinational orchestra, and took connect people across the world and to sound, light and projections, but also in the concerts for thousands of schoolchildren the idea to Nord Stream AG, operator of make them reconnect with the environment way that we communicate on stage. Our from rural Denmark, many of whom are the natural gas pipelines through the Baltic led to a new phase of international touring communication, between each other, and growing up far from concert halls. Sea. His proposal: what better way to reflect and collaboration. Renamed the Baltic Sea with the audience, should be completely In 2016 the Baltic Sea Philharmonic

Flow 24 25 played to 6,000 schoolchildren in a of percussionists ahead of the orchestra’s series of concerts in Sønderborg. Leif ‘Baltic Sea Landscapes’ tour of Europe. Lønsmann, from Danish Radio, says of that Sebastiaan has been particularly inspired collaboration: ‘The concerts were a huge hit by the sense of liberty that Kristjan has with the pupils, who were deeply impressed instilled in the musicians. ‘There’s a lot of by the enthusiasm of the musicians and freedom,’ he says, ‘which makes it much Kristjan’s charisma. The fact that many more interesting, and makes you more of the musicians were only slightly older relaxed when you perform. This helps me than their audience made it easier for the in other situations, too: in other orchestras schoolchildren to connect with the music.’ and at auditions. I can show more of myself without being too stressed.’ This year in Copenhagen and Aarhus the Baltic Sea Philharmonic is expecting more For anyone who watches the orchestra than 7,000 pupils, aged 13 to 16, from the perform, the freedom in its playing Zealand and Jutland regions of Denmark, manifests itself, above all, in joy. As Dirk all of whom will have the chance to von Ameln, Chairman of the Baltic Sea experience symphonic music performed by Music Education Foundation, observes: ‘In a professional orchestra in a major concert the Baltic Sea Philharmonic you see young hall, sometimes for the first time. people who are dedicated and successful, but they also have fun. They are a lesson to ‘Into the Music’ is not the only part of us all, and also to industry. They prove the ‘Waterworks’ tour to focus on youth, that doing a job well can be the most fun however. Ahead of the final concert of you can have in life.’ the tour, at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, the orchestra will have a coaching session with a girls choir from the city to prepare a special encore for the evening’s performance. It will be the choir’s first ever collaboration with a symphony orchestra, and another opportunity for the Baltic Sea Philharmonic to inspire the musicians of the future.

The power of young musicians to inspire others like them is constantly apparent in the Baltic Sea Philharmonic, especially when the players become educators themselves. Norwegian musician Sebastiaan Molenaar, for example, moved up from the percussion section in April 2016 to become a coach, taking responsibility for training the next group

Flow 26 27 SeaChange A world transformed With ‘Waterworks’ the Baltic Sea Philharmonic is reimagining the concert experience

‘Waterworks’ marks the start of a radical creates an optical illusion whereby the new approach to presenting orchestral fusion of the projected image and the music. On this tour the Baltic Sea real surface is transformed into a new Philharmonic is setting out to transform object that appears to be real. the audience experience, by using cutting-edge projection, lighting and Water, with all its natural forms, is an sound design to immerse concert goers endlessly inspiring theme for projection in a world that’s visual as well as musical. mapping and lighting design, says Kristjan. These technological enhancements are ‘Handel’s Water Music goes through a not merely designed to thrill and delight series of transformations, and each of the audiences, says Kristjan Järvi, but to take ten movements of Philip Glass’s Aguas da them to a new level of awareness and Amazonia has a different character and openness. ‘I want to create an atmosphere feel, and we want to convey all this variety from the moment a concert goer enters through the changing visual elements and the space,’ he says. ‘The audience should lighting.’ As for Glass’s Violin Concerto feel as if they are suddenly entering a new No. 2 ‘The American Four Seasons’, the dimension, where they can forget about visual design intriguingly recasts the their regular lives and become part of a seasons as the four elements ‒ earth, air, world where anything is possible.’ fire and water. ‘All the elements, the whole force of nature can be represented with this From hearing the splashes of raindrops piece,’ says Kristjan. echoing around the concert hall to seeing ripples and waves pulsing in time with The designers and visual artists behind the music, or feeling almost swept up in ‘Waterworks’ comprise a multidisciplinary a projection of water cascading over a team of leaders in their respective fields. balcony, the possibilities with state-of- German-born Bertil Mark is an award- the-art technologies to create an alternate winning lighting and stage designer who reality for concert audiences are immense. has designed shows and tour productions Take 3D mapping, for instance. With this for rock groups, hip-hop artists and singer- technique, an image can be projected on songwriters. British-based sound designer to any surface or volumetric object, be Chris Ekers has worked with dance, it the facade of a building or the sound theatre and opera companies, and with reflectors on the ceiling of a concert hall. artists such as Gavin Bryars, Jan Garbarek, The mapping, or adaptation, of the image Max Richter and the Hilliard Ensemble.

Sea Change 30 31 German projection artist Philipp Geist’s As long as we do it subtly and creatively, musical collaborations have included and in harmony with the music, then the an installation in Bayreuth in 2013 for visuals become a seamless part of the total the Richard Wagner 200th-anniversary experience.’ celebrations. His latest project, Time Drifts Cologne, transformed the square beside For Kristjan, the immediate goal of Cologne Cathedral into a large-scale audience transformation doesn’t just walkable light installation. end with the last note played: ‘We want this experience to ignite a spark in people, Water is an endlessly inspiring so that ultimately they become so inspired theme for projection mapping by what they’ve seen and heard that they and lighting design will want to go out and create something similar themselves.’ Just as the Baltic Sea The inspiration behind Kristjan’s original Philharmonic is transforming expectations idea of enhancing the musical performance of what an orchestra should be, so this with visual elements came from a range of new adventure in orchestral presentation, sources. ‘Some rock concerts do amazing as pioneered in ‘Waterworks’, is a dynamic things with 3D mapping, where surface and revolutionary model for concerts of the projections change the entire venue right future. in front of your eyes,’ he says. ‘A number of symphony orchestras in the US and Team Sunbeam Productions Europe use coloured mood lighting to add Kristjan Järvi atmosphere, but with the technology we Evelyn Koster have today, so much more can be done. Florian von Derschau (Production Manager) Bertil Mark (Light Design) Kim Bachot (Light Design) Philipp Geist (Projection Design) Kjell Rijntjes (Video Art) Ruben Ferdinand (Sound Engineer) Chris Ekers (Sound Design) Holger Schwark (Sound Design)

Collaborators Culturemonster (David Donally) Symmetrica TV (Alex Olegnowicz) Melody VR

Sea Change 32 33 Style revolution

The Baltic Sea Philharmonic has an ultra-cool new look thanks to an innovative partnership with Estonian fashion group Baltika

With ‘Waterworks’, the Baltic Sea Everything is part of an organic whole, Baltika has a design heritage stretching Maire Milder, Monton’s Branding and Philharmonic’s reimagining of the concert a unified artistic concept, and that includes back almost 90 years, and played a Retail Concept Director, says: ‘The styling experience doesn’t stop with spectacular how the orchestra looks on stage, the way significant part in safeguarding and for “Waterworks” uses a black‒grey‒white‒ projections and atmospheric sound and its clothes represent the different colours of championing Estonia’s textile and clothing navy colour palette, with sky blue for the lighting design. The innovation extends water, and the way the light reflects off the industry during the country’s transition from accent. It’s a rather minimalistic styling to what the musicians are wearing on various materials.’ closed borders to the post-Communist era where details act as focal points: pleats stage. Not for them the conventional of free-market opportunity. Monton, one of imitate water flow and movement, and formal concert attire; instead the players This tour marks the start of a long-term five Baltika brands, was established nearly sheer tulle and straight-cut edges represent and conductor Kristjan Järvi are sporting collaboration planned by the Baltic Sea 15 years ago – making it only a few years the qualities of ice.’ She adds: ‘We also bespoke clothing from Monton, a leading Philharmonic and the Baltika Group. older than the Baltic Sea Philharmonic – considered the need for comfort, so that the brand that is part of the Estonian fashion The two organisations are particularly and is today the most successful Estonian musicians can concentrate on their goal of house Baltika Group. The orchestra’s new well matched, in more than just name: fashion brand in the world. making music.’ look has been designed to reflect the water innovative and passionate about everything theme of the concert repertoire, with the they do, both are driven by an openness Known for its free-spirited individuality, ‘It’s rare for orchestral musicians clad not in black but in shades of to fresh ideas, and both bring talented Monton often merges contrasting musicians to have comfortable grey, white and blue. people together and cross geographical influences to create a look that’s fresh performance clothes that are boundaries. and unexpected. For instance, its spring/ For Kristjan, the collaboration with Monton summer 2017 collection ‘Duality’, designed so stylish’ is an important part of the new presentation by a team from Estonia, Finland and The fusion of style and comfort gives the concept being pioneered in ‘Waterworks’. Lithuania, takes inspiration from two Baltic Sea Philharmonic a unique and He says: ‘The sense of unity that I want to islands that could not be more different: innovative edge, says Kristjan: ‘Monton’s achieve between the music, the projections, hot, tropical Cuba and cool, clean Iceland. clothing is the kind that allows a musician to the lighting and the sound design also And it’s the second of these islands, with its move around naturally. And while comfort is incorporates the clothing of the orchestra. geysirs, waterfalls, glaciers and surrounding paramount, it’s rare for orchestral musicians seas, that has inspired the design for the to have comfortable performance clothes orchestra’s outfits. that are so stylish. So we are breaking new ground, both in terms of fashion and in how the stage design and lighting is enhanced by the look of an orchestra.’

Sea Change 34 35 Voices of the east Baltic Folk Tour

Our upcoming tour explores folk-inspired music Baltic Sea Philharmonic from Estonia and Russia Kristjan Järvi Alexander Malofeev The Baltic Sea Philharmonic’s second tour star in Russia and has been acclaimed of 2017, will take audiences in Sweden, by some of the country’s greatest Germany and Italy on a folk-inspired musicians. I am pleased that we can Arvo Pärt (1935) August 2017 journey through the eastern part of the introduce him to a wider international Swansong (Littlemore tractus) Baltic Sea region. ‘Baltic Folk’ combines audience.’ for orchestra 19 August 2017, 8.00 pm the devotional warmth of Arvo Pärt’s Visby (Congress hall Wisby Strand, Swansong, with the poetic nostalgia of The ‘Baltic Folk’ tour, like ‘Waterworks’ Sergei Rachmaninoff Island of Gotland), Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, and before it, will transform the concert (1873 – 1943) Sweden the fairy-tale magic of Stravinsky’s The experience with an original fusion of music, Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 Firebird. projections, and sound and lighting design. 20 August 2017, 7.00 pm But the Baltic Sea Philharmonic will make Igor Stravinsky Rheingau Musik Festival (Wiesbaden, Kurhaus), Swansong is Pärt’s orchestration of a further adventurous shift from orchestral (1882 – 1971) Germany Littlemore Tractus, a piece he originally conventions, by performing The Firebird The Firebird (1945) composed for choir and organ, setting entirely from memory. For Kristjan this 23 August 2017, 8.30 pm words from a sermon that the influential is not so much a technical exercise or Merano Music Festival (Merano, Kursaal), theologian John Henry Newman preached mental feat, but more an evolution in how Italy in 1843 in the English village of Littlemore. musicians communicate: ‘Performing The Kristjan Järvi likens the music to a village Firebird from memory is all about chemistry waltz: ‘Sometimes this waltz is slightly and communication. It should feel like the bitter, at other times nostalgic, but in the players are improvising music that they end turns into something very hopeful, in its have known for a long time.’ The project yearning for warmth and light.’ For Kristjan, is daring nonetheless, and the whole this sense of longing and transformation is experience should be a fascinating one for paralleled, in music of an altogether more both musicians and audience alike. epic and exotic style, in The Firebird, with its story of rebirth. Of the ever-popular Rachmaninoff Second Concerto, he says: ‘It is the most nostalgic, the most Russian- themed concerto ever.’

Joining the Baltic Sea Philharmonic to perform the Rachmaninoff will be the 15-year-old Russian pianist Alexander Malofeev. Kristjan says of his new collaborator: ‘Alexander is already a rising

Sea Change 36 37 Published by Baltic Sea Music Education Foundation e. V. Strasse der Pariser Kommune 38 10243 Berlin, Germany Phone: +49 30 297 702 90 Fax: +49 30 297 702 92 Email: [email protected] www.bmef.eu

Dr Dirk von Ameln, Chairman of the Board Acknowledgements Rolf Seelige-Steinhoff, Deputy Chairman Baltic Sea Music Education Foundation Frank Häuser, Treasurer is grateful for all the support received Matthias Warnig, President of the Board throughout the year by individual persons, of Trustees companies and institutions, as well as all music lovers. Many thanks to all of them! Kristjan Järvi, Founding Conductor and Music Director We offer our sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr Thomas Hummel, Executive Director h. c. Cornelia Pieper, Consul General in Jutta Loosen, Communications Director Gdańsk, for her support. We would also like to thank all of our envoys for their Artistic Council support throughout the year and for their Valery Gergiev, Marek Janowski, enthusiasm for the Baltic Sea Philharmonic. Mariss Jansons, Kurt Masur (†), Esa-Pekka Salonen We would like to welcome Jens Lange among our group of supporters and Editors thank him and all of our supporters for Peter Somerford their contributions to our educational programmes 2017. Design Brousse & Ruddigkeit, Jonas Rose A great thank you to all the music academies involved in our 2017 projects for Photos their support and help. All photographs by Peter Adamik, except page 19 Open Sea Foundation, pages 9, 11 Baltic Sea Music Education Foundation. Baltic Sea Music Education Foundation is supported by

Baltic Sea Philharmonic