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issue 3/2010

What for? The madness of orchestra touring
This issue gives an overview of orchestra touring – the backgrounds, motivations, problems and trends. A phenomenon of the late 19th century, touring blossomed with the development of modern transport. Often it underpinned quasi-diplomatic missions, with orchestras serving as ambassadors of goodwill and national culture. Today, touring is also an important marketing instrument, with certain markets – such as Asia – booming, while others, like the USA, are facing economic problems. Yet touring also has more individual aspects, impacting on the ensemble members as well as their group dynamic: jet lag, the conditions of travel and accommodation all influence mood and performance. It is a potentially stressful time, but also a period of intense personal interactions.

Hans Werner Henze
Symphony No. 9
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Ltg. Marek Janowski
Wergo WER 6722 2

Mit seiner Sinfonia N. 9 erweist Hans Werner Henze Ludwig van Beethoven auf ganz eigene Weise seine Reverenz. Nach dem rein instrumentalen Requiem (1990-1992), untertitelt "Neun geistliche Konzerte", ist die neunte Sinfonie (1996/97) durchgängig für gemischten Chor und Orchester gesetzt. Mit dem Werk thematisiert Henze erstmals in seiner kompositorischen Karriere explizit die Zeit der Nazi-Diktatur und damit auch die Zeit seiner eigenen Jugend.  >>