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Rihm: Symphony ‘Nähe fern’
Hans Christoph Begemann (baritone)
Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, James Gaffigan
If every work of art can be understood as the docile or rebellious descendant of dozens, indeed hundreds of other works of art, the immense majority of Wolfgang Rihm’s compositions fully assume the heritage of the past. This is especially true of ‘Nähe fern’, whose title (‘Distant proximity’) refers to his experience of the four symphonies of Brahms. Each of these pieces for orchestra is a homage profoundly linked with its model, yet at the same time constantly moves away from it. Commissioned by the Lucerne Sinfonieorchester ‘Nähe fern’ was premiered at the Lucerne Festival on 20th August 2012.
Born in New York, James Gaffigan won first prize at the 2004 Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition. He is currently Chief Conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln. He is also in great demand with leading orchestras throughout the world.
Following his debut at the Vienna State Opera he was immediately invited back for ‘Don Giovanni’ in 2012/13. A continuing relationship with Glyndebourne has seen him conduct ‘La Cenerentola’, ‘Falstaff’ and ‘Così fan tutte’. [text from Presto Classical]