101207_sik0111_engl_k5_Layout 1 Kopie 08.12.10 16:02 Seite 1 01/11 SIKORSKI MUSIC PUBLISHERS • WWW.SIKORSKI.DE • [email protected] magazine MODERN BALLET AND BALLET MUSIC 70th Birthday of John Neumeier and 80th Birthday of Rodion Shchedrin Music Is (Also) Mathematics – the Complex Oeuvre of Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf Franghiz Ali-Zadeh Turns 65 BIRTHDAYS AND COMMEMORATION DAYS 2012 101207_sik0111_engl_k5_Layout 1 Kopie 08.12.10 16:02 Seite 2 editorial Dear Reader, According to the Duden etymological dictionary, composition is nothing but the construction and design of a work of art. Regarded in this way, choreographers are exactly like composers who organise and form tones - more or less composers of sequences of movement. From numerous choreographies of works from our catalogues, we have experi- enced how close the relationship bet- ween genuine composers and compo- 03 Modern Ballet and Ballet Music sing choreographers is. 70th Birthday of John Neumeier The cooperation of the American cho- and 80th Birthday of Rodion Shchedrin reographer and ballet director John 06 Music Is (Also) Mathematics – Neumeier, who has lived in Hamburg the Complex Oeuvre of Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf for decades, with composers such as 07 Not Only for Azerbaijan Lera Auerbach, Alfred Schnittke and a Reason to Celebrate: Arvo Pärt, is outstanding. Franghiz Ali-Zadeh Turns 65 The great avant-gardist Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, who structures and organi- ses his complex scores like a mathema- tician, thereby discovering the most fascinating sound worlds, will be cele- brating a round birthday in 2012. There NEWS is a striking accumulation of round CONTENTS Ruzicka’s “EINSCHREIBUNG” birthdays in the Scandinavian countries, in Memory of Mahler moreover, where we are privileged to The music of Gustav Mahler and its interpretation through the philosopher Theodor W. Adorno are central subjects in represent a number of composers. the work of the conductor and composer Peter Ruzicka. The contradictions and darkest depths of the soul in Mahler’s music were, already for the young Ruzicka, Discover with us the variety of this a point of departure for his own aesthetic. “Large late- music and its creators! romantic string gestures in which Mahler’s tone shimmers through stand as a sign of utopia for Ruzicka to the present day. Ruzicka has now composed his latest work ‘EINSCHREIBUNG’ in response to a commission from the Dagmar Sikorski NDR Hamburg,” the NDR announces the anxiously awaited Dr. Axel Sikorski world premiere of “EINSCHREIBUNG,” Six Pieces for Large Orchestra by Peter Ruzicka on 10 February 2011 at the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg. Christoph Eschenbach will direct the NDR Symphony Orchestra in this concert. 2|SIKORSKI magazine 101207_sik0111_engl_k5_Layout 1 Kopie 08.12.10 16:02 Seite 3 COVER Modern Ballet and Ballet Music 70th Birthday of John Neumeier and 80th Birthday of Rodion Shchedrin THE PREMATURELY DECEASED CHOREOGRAPHER AND DIRECTOR OF THE LEIPZIG BALLET COMPANY, UWE SCHOLZ, ONCE SAID: “THE DIFFICULT THING ABOUT DANCING IS SHOWING WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL ABOUT DANCING SO THAT WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL DOES NOT LOOK DIFFICULT.” ust as difficult as dancing itself – the dancing great classical works of music hips are built up, questions are asked J direct expression of spiritual states such as Gustav Mahler’s Third Symphony which frequently remain open. through movement and a controlled or Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion.” Choreography and music ultimately bodily position – is finding the appro- Neumeier already formed a close con- allow a kaleidoscope-like structure to priate music for free or subject-bound nection to Alfred Schnittke during the arise in which the listener and spectator choreographies. Beyond full-length bal- 1980s, and during recent years he also gain impressions and can take their lets such as Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo formed a close relationship with the own positions. and Juliet ” or “ Cinderella,” or Aram Russian-American composer Lera Khachaturian’s “Gayaneh,” many cho- Auerbach during the course of several ”A Streetcar Named Desire” reographers tend to compile their own sensational productions. Most choreo- based on Alfred Schnittke works out of many heterogeneous musi- graphers feel magically attracted to The Hamburg Ballet opened its guest cal sections with which to underpin their the strong radiance of the music of season 2010-2011 in autumn 2010 with choreographies. Schnittke. It creates associations which, the Baden-Baden premiere of von One of the greatest choreographers of among other things, have their origin in “A Streetcar Named Desire .” John the present day is unquestionably John the variety of overlapping and combina- Neumeier’s company gave seven guest Neumeier. He will be celebrating his tion of stylistic elements. It is known that performances at the Festspielhaus. 70th birthday on 24 February 2012, and the Polish modernist composer Witold Alongside the already legendary choreo- we can be sure that new choreographies Lutoslawski, who died in 1994, did not graphy based on Tennessee Williams’ and a number of excerpts from his ear- want his music to be used for ballet pro- theatre classic, they had a ballet work- lier gigantic production, in many cases ductions. For him, the scenic events shop as well as a “Hommage aux bound with composers of our publishing were a distraction from the musical Ballets Russes” in their baggage. company, will be seen to celebrate this substance; the listening experience was John Neumeier had already adapted occasion. his primary concern. Schnittke was com- Tennessee Williams’ famous drama “A John Neumeier has been the ballet pletely different: his music already at Streetcar named Desire” for a ballet in director and head choreographer of the times contains images within itself and Stuttgart in 1983; Marcia Haydée and Hamburg Ballet since 1973. He was born at least allows for a visualisation of the Richard Cragun danced the leading in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1942, recei- texture of relationships, if it doesn’t roles. The Hamburg premiere of ved his dance training in Copenhagen expressly require it. “Streetcar” then took place in 1987 with and later at the Royal Ballet School in Neumeier’s ambitions are clearly related Colleen Scott and Ivan Liška. London and was engaged by John to the musical concerns of Alfred In April and May 2010, the Norwegian Cranko for his Stuttgart Ballet in 1963. Schnittke. A story, whether the realisati- National Ballet presented it at the Oslo From 1969 until 1973, Neumeier was on of Shakespeare’s often retold Othello Opera House. In “Streetcar Named ballet director in Frankfurt am Main. In or the tale of Cinderella, is never a rigid Desire,” Neumeier uses the Symphony his choreographic works, he is concer- structure for him, with a framework No. 1 by Alfred Schnittke and the ned with finding contemporary forms for that must not be broken. The subject is “Visions fugitives ” Op. 22 by Sergei traditional ballet classics, but also for considerably expanded, new relations- Prokofiev. SIKORSKI magazine|3 101207_sik0111_engl_k5_Layout 1 Kopie 08.12.10 16:02 Seite 4 70th Birthday of John Neumeier and 80th Birthday of Rodion Shchedrin Schnittke’s and Neumeier’s for Neumeier, which was premiered with “Peer Gynt great success on 15 April 2005. After “A Streetcar Named Desire” and Concerning her collaboration with John “Othello,” which was based on Neumeier on this work, Lera Auerbach Schnittke’s Concerto grosso No. 1 , once said: “The peculiar quality of thea- among other works, it was above all the tre music is that there are extra-musical first full-length ballet music based on frames to work with. One needs to find Henrik Ibsen’s “ Peer Gynt ” that was to a balance between achieving what you manifest John Neumeier’s and Alfred intend to create artistically and yet Schnittke’s artistic collaboration and make it work organically together with attract international attention. all the dramatic requirements of the Neumeier admitted that he had dreamt of theatre. If music becomes only a servant WORKS CHOREOGRAPHED IN a collaboration like that between Mikhail of the dance, as happened with many BALLETS OF JOHN NEUMEIER Fokine and Igor Stravinsky, and he wrote 19th century ballets, then it is a pro- Lera Auerbach: to Schnittke: “Later, when I worked on the blem. The other difficulty is the length. 24 Preludes for Violoncello and Piano ballet ‘Peer Gynt’ with you, Alfred, this With the Little Mermaid we have full (in “Préludes CV”) dream came true for me (...).” Neumeier three acts - and to sustain your best 24 Preludes for Violin and Piano (in has repeatedly stated how strongly quality within the span of a three-hour “Préludes CV”) Schnittke’s music inspired him to create production where the overall architec- “The Little Mermaid.” Ballet based on choreographic scenes. Schnittke, for his ture needs to hold the structure toget- H.C. Andersen part, designated the choreography of her is definitely a challenge.” “Eugene Onegin.” Ballet, premiere Neumeier as “something completely June 2012 novel, that in its multi-dimensionality has “Nijinsky” according never before existed.” And he asked to Shostakovich Gustav Mahler: Neumeier to be allowed to dedicate the The production “ Nijinsky” by John Symphony No. 10 (Mahler/Cooke) score of “Peer Gynt” to him – “if it Neumeier received its premiere on 2 26.06.2011 Premiere: Ballet at the Hamburg somehow corresponds to the meaning July 2000 at the Hamburg State Opera. State Opera of what you have created.” “Peer Gynt” The choreography is, according to t he Hamburg ballet director, not a dance-like was the first ballet that Neumeier desi- Arvo Pärt: gned in direct collaboration with a living sketch of the life of the great dancer and “Perpetuum mobile” (“Seven Haikus composer. However, this type of shared star of the Ballets russes, but a biogra- of the Moon”) work was new for Schnittke as well: “it phy of the soul, the feelings and conditi- (“Seven Haikus of the Moon”) stimulates me,” he said before the pre- ons of this artist who became so serious- miere on 22 January 1989.