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© Wolf-Dieter Grabner
Ensemble Kontrapunkte
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December 2024  | ||||||
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Experience the innovative sounds of Ensemble Kontrapunkte at Vienna's renowned Musikverein. This concert series features captivating compositions spanning from contemporary premieres to classical gems, conducted and moderated by Gottfried Rabl. Join us for an unforgettable journey through diverse musical landscapes in one of Europe's most prestigious concert halls.
Program and cast
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2024
Ensemble Kontrapunkte
Gottfried Rabl, Conductor and Moderator
Ekaterina Krasko, Soprano
PROGRAM
Anniversary Concert – 50 Years of Ensemble Kontrapunkte at the Musikverein
SÂNZIANA-CRISTINA DOBROVICESCU
New Work
CLARA IANNOTTA
Troglodyte Angels Clank By
MAURICIO KAGEL
Finale with Chamber Ensemble
– Intermission –
CLAUDE VIVIER
Bouchara. Love Song for Soprano, Wind Quintet, String Quintet, Percussion, and Tape
GAVIN BRYARS
Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet
MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024 | Glass Hall / Magna Auditorium
Ensemble Kontrapunkte
Gottfried Rabl, Conductor and Moderator
PROGRAM
In Winter
KAREN TANAKA
Frozen Horizon
SARA GLOJNARIĆ
sugarcoating (v3.0)
HANS ABRAHAMSEN
Winternacht
– Intermission –
DONNACHA DENNEHY
Land of Winter
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025
Ensemble Kontrapunkte
Gottfried Rabl, Conductor and Moderator
Ekaterina Krasko, Soprano
Georg Klimbacher, Baritone
PROGRAM
At the End
EGON KORNAUTH
Chamber Music (Decet for Wind Quintet and String Quintet), Op. 31b
RICHARD DÜNSER
Die letzten Dinge. Four Songs based on Texts by Thomas Höft
– Intermission –
ERNST BACHRICH
Three Songs, Op. 3; arranged for Soprano and Ensemble by Bernd Richard Deutsch
BERND RICHARD DEUTSCH
Dr. Futurity
MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2025 | Glass Hall / Magna Auditorium
Ensemble Kontrapunkte
Gottfried Rabl, Conductor and Moderator
PROGRAM
Full of Flowers
SVEND HVIDTFELT NIELSEN
Flowerfall. A Flourishing Fantasy
LIZA LIM
Garden of Earthly Desire
– Intermission –
GRACE-EVANGELINE MASON
The Beauty of Decay (Austrian Premiere)
ENNO POPPE
Blumen (Austrian Premiere)
MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025
Ensemble Kontrapunkte
Gottfried Rabl, Conductor and Moderator
N.N., Recitation
Kaori Nishii, Piano
PROGRAM
Between Worlds
ARNOLD BAX
Concerto for Flute, Oboe, Harp, and String Quartet
CONSTANT LAMBERT
Concerto for Piano and Nine Instruments
– Intermission –
FLORENT SCHMITT
Suite en rocaille, Op. 84
GROUPE DES SIX
Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel. Play with Ballet by Jean Cocteau ("The Wedding on the Eiffel Tower"); arranged by Marius Constant
Musikverein Brahms Hall
For many years, this hall was known only as the “Kleine Musikvereinssaal”, until in 1937, during the 125th anniversary year of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien, it was given a name that truly reflects its importance: the Brahms Saal. Johannes Brahms not only performed in person in this hall, he was also behind the very first concert to be performed here, by Clara Schumann on 19 January 1870. The standards set that day have been maintained ever since. The Brahms Saal remains one of the most prized locations for the greatest chamber music ensembles and lieder singers performing in the world today.
With just under of 600 seats, the hall is designed to showcase the intimate aspects of classical music. The hall acoustics are perfectly attuned to deliver this: the Brahms Saal – 32.50 metres long, 10.30 metres wide und 11 metres high – possesses a similar acoustic brilliance to the Große Musikvereinssaal.
When the Musiverein building was opened in 1870, the Kleine Musikvereinssaal was described as a “true little treasure chest”. It was even suggested that this hall might warrant greater praise and wonderment than the Große Musikvereinssaal: “One might even wish to award the prize to this hall for its peacefulness and simple grandeur.” It is abundantly clear that Theophil Hansen’s design for the Brahms Saal created an architectonic masterpiece of the Historicism period. His commitment to the “Greek Renaissance”, evident in the design’s allusions to classical Hellas, make this concert hall an authentic temple of chamber music.
In 1993 the Brahms Saal underwent a comprehensive restoration programme. The restoration project involved consulting the original designs held at the Print Room at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. This made it possible to reconstruct the original colour scheme created by Hansen as the Musikverein’s architect: green walls, red columns and the liberal use of gold.
When the Brahms Saal reopened to the public in its new form in 1993, a Vienna newspaper wrote: “Without wishing to raise expectations too high, this has been transformed into the most beautiful, magnificent and prestigious chamber music concert hall we are likely to find anywhere in the world.”
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