The conductor – what does she actually do?
The conductor – what does she actually do?
Seminar on the classical music conductor
Time: Friday 12 June, 16:00–22:00
Location: Concert Hall, Royal Danish Academy of Music
Program
16:00 – 16:30 With the conductor at work. The audience is the orchestra
Welcome by Esben Tange
The audience is conducted by Magnus Larsson.
Through rehearsing well-known songs, the audience experiences first-hand what it means to be conducted – using the conductor’s toolkit: dynamics, tempo, balance, phrasing, interpretation.
16.30 – 17.00: Kirill Petrenko – a portrait. Drawn by those who know him, who have worked with him and who have followed him.
- Jesper Busk Sørensen and Emmanuel Pahud. On Petrenko in Berlin.
- Michael Schønwandt. From conductor to conductor
- Join us in Vienna, Munich and Vorarlberg in Austria, where Kirill Petrenko’s career began.
- Kirill Petrenko in concert and interviews.
17.00–17.10: Report from the rehearsals with Kirill Petrenko and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Meet the young conducting students attending the rehearsals for the prize concert with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra: Leon Reimer, Korbinian Krol, Hjörtur Eggertsson, Johanne Sofie Bech Madsen.
17.10–17.15: Short break
17.15–17.45: The Maestro of the 20th Century by Esben Tange
- Leonard Bernstein, recipient of the Sonning Music Prize in 1965. The ecstatic inspirer. Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 3 ‘Espansiva’ with the Royal Chapel Orchestra.
- Sergio Celibidache, recipient of the Sonning Music Prize in 1970. Trance and seduction. Ravel: Bolero with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
- Herbert von Karajan. Perfection, control and the conductor as a star! Recordings and statements with the Berlin Philharmonic.
17:40–18:00: The Conductor in the 21st Century
- Herbert Blomstedt, recipient of the 2016 Sonning Music Prize. Spirit, authority and a long life dedicated to music. Interview with Christina Åstrand.
- Simon Rattle, recipient of the 2013 Sonning Music Prize. Contagious curiosity and commitment. Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 ‘The Inexhaustible’ with the Royal Chapel Orchestra. Interview with Lars Bjørnkjær, former concertmaster of the Royal Chapel Orchestra.
18:00–18:45: Dinner break. Sandwiches and more. The bar is open. Have a chat with the speakers.
18:45–19:00: Female conductors
Hannah Howard Andresen. Master’s degree in Gender Studies from the University of Oslo and conductor. Marin Alsop, Susanna Mälkki and Elim Chan are among the many female conductors who have made their mark internationally today. But are female conductors still battling outdated notions of gender and musical leadership?
19.00 – 19.15: Danish orchestra conductors
Dirigentløftet and Henrik Vagn Christensen, conductor and chair of the board of the Danish Association of Conductors. The new report “Mapping the Conducting Scene in Denmark” shows that there is a lack of training opportunities for conductors in Denmark and that young Danish conductors find it difficult to break into the professional Danish orchestras. Has it always been this way, and what is needed to develop the Danish conducting scene?
19.35 – 20.00: Coffee and cake
20.00 – 20.10: Sing-along led by Magnus Larsson. Concert!
20.10 – 20.45: Panel discussion with Q&A – Kirill Petrenko, tradition and innovation in the role of the conductor
Hannah Howard Andresen, Thomas Michelsen, Jesper Busk Sørensen, Christina Åstrand and Michael Schønwandt. Moderator: Benedikte Granvig
In collaboration with Léonie Sonnings Musikfond
Photo: Stephan Rabold
