Photo: Christoph Müller-Girod
In the second part of Conductor’s Curiosa, we’ll have a look at another myth-ridden feature of conductors: the tailcoat? Read Jonathan Darlington thoughts on why many conductors today choose to abandon the “penguin”… more …
Photo: Christoph Müller-Girod
The 5th Philharmonic Concert brings together three great American composers – Leonard Bernstein, Charles Ives as well as Russian immigrant Sergej Rachmaninow. While Rachmaninow might be wondering “how to create?”, Ives might be asking “why create at all?” - and Bernstein’s answer is “yes!” The Duisburg Philharmonic and pianist Barry Douglas will try to retrace these questions – and answers. Read more in maestro Jonathan Darlington’s programme notes … more …
Tomorrow night, “Lucia di Lammermoor” premieres at Vancouver Opera. Donizetti’s masterpiece is one of the most frequently performed belcanto operas which immediately brings to mind wonderful tunes like the “mad scene” with its beautiful dialogue between soprano and flute. And this production has everything a conductor can wish for: “wonderful music combined with a great cast.”
Read music director Jonathan Darlington’s programme notes …
The new CD released by the audiophile lable Acousense brings together live recordings from last season’s 1st and 5th Philharmonic Concerts. With Debussy’s “La Mer” and Stravinsky’s “Le Sacre du Printemps” (“The Rites of Spring”) the CD may well be called a landmark recording of Jonathan Darlington’s work with the Duisburg Philharmonic. Read the music director’s notes on the recording:
What happens when composers re-arrange the works of their predecessors? Is the result a comment or a completely new work of art? The next subscription week concert at the Duisburg Philharmonic will trace this question in Anton Weberns reworking of Bach and Arnold Schoenberg’s reworking of Brahms. The evening’s solosist will be Amanda Forsyth und Pinchas Zuckerman. Read meastro Jonathan Darlington’s programme notes …
With his first subscription week after the summer, Jonathan Darlington plunges right into the focus of the 2010/11 season – the works of Gustav Mahler – with Mahler’s 5th symphony and Lieder from “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” . The concert will also be a grand welcome for this season’s artist in residence, Christoph Prégardien.
Read the maestro JD’s concert notes … more …
Photo: Christoph Müller-Girod
At the 7th Philharmonic Concert, the famous Christ Church Cathedral Choir from Oxford will, for the first time, be a guest on the Duisburg stage. Its conductor, Stephen Darlington happens to be the brother of the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director, Jonathan Darlington. Improbable though this may seem, the two brother’s professional paths have never crossed before. Watch an interview with the two brothers …
Foto: Christoph Müller-Girod
Today, music director Jonathan Darlington was able cut out a few moments after the rehearsal for Haydn’s “Creation” to tell us about his version of the hugely popular oratory. With largely reduced orchestral forces, the maestro opts for a more intimate rendition of the piece. Watch the video ... more …
Photo: Christoph Müller-Girod
Read Jonathan Darligton’s programme notes for the upcoming 7th Philharmonic Concert on March 24th and 25th, featuring Solveig Kringelborn, Johannes Chum, Günter Papendell, Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford, and the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra. more …