The MCO is stationed in Cologne and Brussels this month. The ensemble makes its third appearance of the year in Cologne, one of the three home cities of the MCO residence NRW. The Kölner Philharmonie chose the MCO to play the official anniversary concert on the occasion of its 25th birthday. The following dday, Mahler Chamber Soloists perform in the TRIPCLUBBING series at Cologne’s Alter Wartesaal, with DJ and moderation. The orchestra then travels to the European capital city of Brussels, where it plays the final concert of the Klara Festival.
Cologne, 14 September 2011 - "Gerade erst 25": The Kölner Philharmonie celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and has invited the MCO to play the official anniversary concert. The programme offers something exceptional for the occasion: all of the pieces were written when their composers were 25 years old. The evening begins with the world premiere of a piece commissioned by the Philharmonie from Japanese composer Eiko Tsukamoto. Tsukamoto, also 25 years old, has studied composition at Cologne’s conservatory since 2009. The further works on the programme are by Mozart (Idomeneo excerpts), Britten (Les Illuminations) and Schubert (“Unfinished” Symphony). The MCO is conducted by Sir Roger Norrington; soloist is British tenor Ian Bostridge.
One day after the birthday concert at the Kölner Philharmonie, three musicians of the MCO and DJ Georg Conrad make an appearance at the TRIPCLUBBING series - under the usual MCO chamber music label "Mahler Chamber Soloists". TRIPCLUBBING is a concert series at Cologne’s Alter Wartesaal designed for musicians and listeners with curious ears - between pieces performed by the Mahler Chamber Soloists, DJ Georg Conrad "remixes" the works in a new interpretation. The concert lasts about one hour and is followed by a relaxed lounge atmosphere.
The European Union made the MCO its official "Cultural Ambassador" earlier this year. With its multi-national membership and the broad international reach of its activities, the MCO promotes intercultural dialogue and the mobility of the arts and music across borders. This gives the orchestra's appearance in the European capital city special significance. This is the MCO’s fourth appearance in Brussels, following performances in 1999, 2004 and 2006, and marks the orchestra’s debut at the Klara Festival. The MCO plays the closing concert of the festival, which this year carries the theme “Imagine Paradise”.
This project is Sir Roger Norrington's first collaboration with the MCO. Ian Bostridge last performed with the MCO in a concert performance of the opera Idomeneo in Salzburg in 2005. He also sings on the award-winning recording of Britten's opera The Turn of the Screw, released in 2002 on the Virgin label.
