Events

Waldbühne 2007

We could write a lot about the precision of the Berliner Philarmoniker Orchestra. We could speak endlessly about the professionalism and charisma of Sir Simon Rattle that, in spite of the initial doubts showed by public opinion and the fame of his excellent predecessors, was able to conquer the Philarmonik’s audience with his own original and acute personality. We could talk with admiration about the various sections that make up the orchestral ensemble, each one of which is formed by some of the best virtuoso and solo musicians. Let us quote, for example, our affectionate line-up of the double bass players: Klaus Stoll, Nabil Shehata, Rudolf Watzel and Martin Heinze,Wolfgang Kohly, Esko Laine, Peter Riegelbauer, Edicson Ruiz (the youngest Berliner member ever!), Janne Saksala, Janusz Widzyk, Ulrich Wolff!!! – but this is not the point… it is probably the emotion that such an important orchestra is with no doubt able to convey, it is perhaps the unreal atmosphere of the venue, the Waldbühne, an amphitheatre in neoclassic style close to the Olympiastadion, behind the Grunewald forest – from which it takes the name of “Theatre of the Forest” – but a magic and supernatural atmosphere surrounds the great number of visitors arrived to take part in this yearly show that closes the Berlin season of the Philarmoniker, before the summer holidays. Many families and young people lay on the ground that divides the audience from the stage. Many children have fun during the break between Antonin Dvorak’s Slavonich Rhapsody op.45 and Sergej Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini for piano and orchestra op. 43, conducted with high-class gesture by M° Stephen Hough, and passionately and silently participated in the performance of Claude Debussy’s Rhapsody for clarinet and orchestra op.116. The soloist was Wenzel Fuchs, a member of the Berliner, whose excellent technique enchanted the ecstatic audience. Lastly, George Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody N.1 in A Major Op.11 closed this exciting musical night. For the first time, we wanted to side step the strictly technical comment to pay tribute to the audience that brought us back to the real dimension of a musical experience: the communicative listening experience and the pleasure of doing it! This time, besides applauding the great Berliner, whose high level demonstrates their well deserved fame, we also paid special attention to the audience, being the author of an enchanting performance of musical “civilization”.

“Children are our future. It is not us that should teach them a love for music, but it is us that should learn by them how to render music a unique experience in which love triumphs...”, from a talk with Professor Klaus Stoll, first double bass and Berliner Philarmoniker’s dean., W della Rapsodia per clarinetto ed orchestra op.116 di Claude

Riccardo Valsecchi