Beethoven | Deutsche Welle Folgen

Mihaela Ursuleasa plays a dizzying and enchanting toccata by Romanian composer Paul Constantinescu.Paul Constantinescu Toccata Mihaela Ursuleasa, piano Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) Encore pieces reveal much of the mood of the moment. Such is the case with this one. After Mihaela Ursuleasa's performance of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Roma and Sinti Philharmonic, the audience simply wasn't ready to let her go, so the pianist wowed the audience for a second time with her rendition of this toccata by 20th century Romanian composer Paul Constantinescu. It's a perfect piece to round out an evening or an album, as it does on Ursuleasa's 2009 solo debut titled "Piano & Forte." Constantinescu's composition requires not only dexterous fingers but also the ability to combine speedy, virtuousic playing with much sensitivity. The classical pianist may have acquired her knack for showmanship from her father, a Romanian gypsy who made a living playing folk music. Conductor Riccardo Sahiti praises her as being among a handful of the best soloists with whom he has worked. Author: Greg Wiser Editor: Rick Fulker

American composer Steve Reich, a founding father of minimal music, performed in Bonn two weeks before his 75th birthday.Steve Reich Drumming - Part One for four pairs of tuned bongo drums Steve Reich, percussion Ensemble Modern MP3 recorded in the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany, Bonn, on September 21, 2011 by Deutsche Welle (DW) Steve Reich is a cult figure. Raised and trained in the European music tradition, his influences extend to African and Indonesian music as well as jazz. Reich has had a decisive impact on the course of 20th century music history. In the early 1960's he began to write music in which rhythm, recognizable melodies, simpler harmonies and natural instruments (in contrast to electronic) were once again paramount. He recognized early that in the Western tradition there has always been a close connection between "serious" and "entertainment" music. Reich, who professes to loving Bach and Stravinsky as well as jazz musician John Coltrane, received instruction from Gideon Alorwoyie in the art of African percussion in 1970 during his stay at the University of Ghana in Accra. That experience found its creative expression in his first masterpiece, "Drumming," which appeared the following year. At first listen, "Drumming" might seem to be an extremely simple work, consisting only of rhythmic expression. Beneath the surface, however, there are accentual shifts and temporal substructures that lend complexity to the piece and put the listener inescapably under their spell. In this concert recording, the composer is one of the performers. This is part one of the four-part composition. Author: Rick Fulker Editor: Greg Wiser

Whatever doubts conductor Riccardo Sahiti had about his Roma and Sinti Philharmonic were laid to rest during this concert. He praised the violin and double bass soloists here as being at the top of their field.Giovanni Bottesini Grand Duo concertante for double bass, violin and orchestra Roman Patkoló, double bass Géza Hosszu-Legocky, violin Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR) Giovanni Bottesini knew how to write for the double bass. In the 19th century, the composer and performer earned wide acclaim for his virtuosic playing on an instrument that many think of as clunky and mellow. But the Gran Duo showcases the full range of the double bass as it sends the player's fingers speeding down the neck and into its highest registers. This adaptation of the piece for double bass, violin and orchestra by Camillo Sivori gave violinist Geza Hosszu-Legocky the chance to return to the stage, and the audience was thrilled to see him. They wouldn't let him go without an encore, the second of four that the crowd was able to command in the course of the evening. The audience's warm reception was a relief for conductor Riccardo Sahiti, who said he was initially afraid that the three days of rehearsal the ensemble had before its Beethovenfest debut wouldn't be enough. The Roma and Sinti Philharmonic is comprised of professional musicians of Roma and Sinti heritage from other orchestras who met at the festival to honor Franz Liszt and Hungary's rich musical traditions. "But at the concert, they came together and gave more and more, and this was the result. These people can do anything. They played from the heart - not for the money but for an idea," Sahiti said. Author: Greg Wiser Editor: Rick Fulker