Violin Concerto & Cello Concerto (CD) / Eberhard Klemmstein

Among the more than 70 works by Eberhard Klemmstein (born 1941) that exist to date are operas, several symphonies, chamber music, and lieder. Solo concertos for various instruments also feature prominently in his oeuvre. He undoubtedly belongs to the free-tonal camp of composers; his music is characterized by a very personal, multi-faceted harmony and colourful instrumentation, which, combined with the invention of striking themes and their artful development, leads to a personal musical language. The Violin Concerto dates from 2014. Ingolf Turban and Eberhard Klemmstein share a long-standing musical friendship. As soon as he saw the first sketches of the Violin Concerto, he was spontaneously enthusiastic and wanted to perform it immediately. An opportunity for this arose in the concert series of the Vogtland Philharmonie. Dorian Keilhack had just been appointed as the new principal conductor there. Keilhack had already premiered several of Klemmstein's works in previous years – for example, he conducted the world premiere of the opera "Der Achte Tag". Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic initially prevented the premiere of the Violin Concerto. All the more pleasing was the orchestra's offer to make a recording of the Violin Concerto dedicated to Ingolf Turban instead. The 3-movement Cello Concerto undoubtedly falls into the category of "Symphonic Solo Concertos". The concerto is dedicated to Mark Kosower, who had already premiered Klemmstein's Cello Sonata together with the pianist Jee Won Oh and also recorded it for Bavarian Radio. At the time of its creation (2012), he was solo cellist with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Shortly thereafter, the Cleveland Orchestra appointed him as its new Principal Cellist. Thus, some time passed before the concerto could be premiered on June 16, 2017, in Bratislava, together with the Slovak Radio Orchestra. The conductor was David Hernando Rico, who had already recorded Klemmstein's Oboe Concerto three years earlier. Following the premiere, he then conducted the present studio recording of the Cello Concerto with the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra.