Tabea Zimmermann

Four concerts in the recital hall (»Kleiner Saal«) of the Laeiszhalle.

Despite being a world famous viola player, Tabea Zimmermann is in many ways pleasantly different from the usual virtuoso. Anyone who chooses to dedicate her life to the viola already shows that she puts artistic values higher than the usual showmanship. The instrument's wonderfully warm alto sound is suited perfectly for exploration of a vast musical horizon, but not for effusive self-presentation.

Tabea Zimmermann started playing the viola at the age of three. As a teenager she won several international competitions and at the age of 21 she became Germany's youngest professor at the Saarbrücken school of music. She never behaved like a spoiled wunderkind, nor did she later fall victim to the behaviour of many an established master soloist. On the contrary, she has always expanded her field of activity in all directions with a keen curiosity.

The four-part cycle in the Kleiner Saal of the Laeiszhalle illuminates the different aspects of her exceptional career: as soloist with a string orchestra, as part of the prominently cast Arcanto Quartet with the renowned clarinet player Jörg Widmann, in dialogue with pianist Kirill Gerstein as well as »prima inter pares« with well-known viola colleagues in the »Viola Night.« Just as it is natural for Tabea Zimmermann to share the stage with several young viola talents on that evening (as well as giving a workshop for the next generation of viola players the following day), so it is clear that her programmes won´t be limited to the usual choice of titles. The classics of the viola repertoire will of course be there, but modern and contemporary pieces will also receive their due. We wouldn´t expect anything different from such an open minded and innovative artist.