Throwback on first morning Mahler | Strauss Symposium

31 October 2014 With lectures and private coachings it was a very busy first morning of the Mahler | Strauss Symposium.

Symposium
After a warm welcome by general manager Annett Andriesen at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague our first guests went into the Arnold Schoenbergzaal for a talk by Prof. Dr. Peter Revers. He spoke about the theme, development of themes, thematic elaboration, song – narrative and semantic aspects in Gustav Mahler’s “Der Schildwache Nachtlied”. After Peter Revers also Frau Mag. Eva Teimel and Frau Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Schmierer went on stage for a talk about Mahler and Strauss.

Quote from Peter Revers talk
“No programs will lead one to an understanding of this work, nor any other Mahler symphony: it is absolute music  and non-literary from beginning to the end: a four movement symphony, each movement organic in itself, and completely accessible by anyone who is responsive to subtle humour.”

- Peter Franklin, Mahler’s Third Symphony, in: Donald Mitchell and Andrew Nicholson (ed.), The Mahler Companion, Oxford etc. 1999, p. 173)

Private coachings by Jard van Nes and David Selig
In the morning both Jard van Nes and David Selig hosted a private coaching for a small group of persons at the Royal Conservatoire. On the photo you see Jard van Nes with soprano Zinzi Frohwein and pianist Tim Sabel. Van Nes: “Support each other, inspire each other and listen to each other. You have to do this together!” David Selig also had some tips for the participants of his coaching: “I wouldn’t play with my thumb. It just is not as subtle as the other fingers.”

Programme for the rest of the day
From 2 pm through 6 pm Christa Ludwig and David Selig will host a public masterclass at the Arnold Schoenbergzaal. Participants are:
- Soprano Wendeline van Houten & pianist Rik Kuppen
- Mezzo-soprano Carina Vinke & pianist Nicola Rose
- Soprano Zinzi Frohwein & pianist Tim Sabel
- Mezzo-soprano Florieke Beelen & pianist Abigail Richards
- Mezzo-soprano Esther Kuiper & pianist Cecily Lock
- Baritone Artur Rozek & pianist Julia Laskowska
- Alt Carine Vinke & pianist Eke Simons

At night from 7.30 pm through 10 pm Jard van Nes and David Selig will give another public masterclass. Participants are:
- Mezzo-soprano Esther Kuiper & pianist Cecily Lock
- Soprano Wendeline van Houten & pianist Rik Kuppen
- Baritone Artur Rozek & pianist Julia Laskowska
- Mezzo-soprano Florieke Beelen & pianist Abigail Richards