Karol Szymanowski Quartet / Michail Lifits

Hamburg International Music Festival / NDR das neue werk

This concert has already taken place! 10 | 18 | 28 | 44
This concert has already taken place! 10 | 18 | 28 | 44
Michail Lifits
Michail Lifits © Felix Broede
Karol Szymanowski Quartet
Karol Szymanowski Quartet © Bruno Fidrych
  • Doors open 18:30

  • Start 19:30

  • Interval

  • End ca. 21:20

Enthralling juxtaposition

What do Alfred Schnittke and Gustav Mahler have in common? They both lived intermittently in the same cities – Vienna and Hamburg – albeit at different times, of course. Musically however, the German-Russian modernist composer Schnittke and the great late-Romantic symphonist Mahler seem to be absolutely worlds apart. Had it not been for Mahler, however, musical modernism would have been almost unthinkable. After all, it was he who flung the gates wide open into the 20th century, paving the way for composers just like Schnittke. The Karol Szymanowski Quartet and the pianist Michail Lifits explore the (musical) relationships between the two composers with a diverse programme of chamber music.

A point in case: In his piano quartet, Schnittke referred directly to Mahler’s A Minor movement for the same instrumentation. It was, incidentally, to remain Mahler’s only work of chamber music, and is performed in the concert. Schnittke’s penchant for paying homage to the old masters too in his work is evidenced in the »Suite im alten Stil« (»Suite in the Old Style«) – a series of stylised baroque dances that quote themes by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, among others. Schnittke’s Third String Quartet and Piano Quintet set the scene for this enthralling juxtaposition of composers.

Performers

Karol Szymanowski Quartet

Agata Szymczewska violin
Robert Kowalski violin
Volodia Mykytka viola
Karol Marianowski violoncello

Michail Lifits piano

Programme

Alfred Schnittke
Suite im alten Stil / Bearbeitung für Streichquartett von Leo Mykytka
Streichquartett Nr. 3

– Interval –

Gustav Mahler
Klavierquartettsatz a-Moll

Alfred Schnittke
Klavierquartett nach einem Fragment Gustav Mahlers
Klavierquintett

Series

NDR das neue werk

Festival

Hamburg International Music Festival

Spotlight

Alfred Schnittke

Promoter: HamburgMusik / NDR

From the Mediatheque : Videos, Podcasts, Articles

Music and love

Caution! There are lots of opportunities here for you to put your foot in it! Literally one around every corner. Our subject is love and music. Music and love.

Alfred Schnittke – A Portrait

A report by a contemporary witness on one of the leading composers of the 20th century

During your visit

Elbphilharmonie Plaza

A public viewing platform on the 8th floor of the Elbphilharmonie

More about the Plaza

Food and Drink

Before the concert and in the interval

Find out more

Coughing, clapping, chatting

Tips for your concert visit

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