J. BRAHMS – Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Händel, Op. 24 (1861) (Orch. Nahum Amir)
The orchestral works of Brahms are the “bread and butter” of all symphony orchestras. The four symphonies, the overtures and the concertos appear often in concerts programs and attract listeners all over the world to come and experience these masterpieces in the concert halls.
Dr. Nahum Amir’s monumental orchestration with incredible loyalty to the Brahmsian style is a great musical and pedagogic achievement. His faithful treatment to Brahms “Handel Variations”, one of Brahms large scale and most beloved piano pieces, gives orchestras as well as audiences the rare opportunity to discover a “new” orchestral composition by Brahms, and like with his other works, to fall in love with it already from the first listening. “It is a work that should easily enter into the orchestral repertory.” (learn more)
C. DEBUSSY – Symphony in B minor (Orch. Noam Sheriff)
Debussy composed the Symphony in B minor when he was 18 years old. Little is known about the work apart from Debussy’s connection with Madame von Meck, a wealthy widow who has gone down in music history as Tchaikovsky’s patroness. On one of her many journeys throughout Europe she took with, on recommendation, the talented french pianist Clause Debussy, who at the time was still a student of composition at the Paris Conservatoire. Debussy spent his holidays in the years 1880 – 1882 in Madame von Meck entourage. He would play for her on the piano, and together they performed piano duets of music she specially liked, especially pieces she had received from Tchaikovsky. At her request, he also made piano arrangements of dances from swan lake.
Debussy’s visit to Russia had a strong and lasting impact on his music, which until then had been chiefly influenced by Palestrina, Bach and Wagner. It is not easy to decide which Russian composer had a greater influence in him – Mussorgsky or Tchaikovsky. In his Writings, Debussy makes a special mention of Mussorgsky, in whose compositions he had found a kindred spirit for some of his own ideas. Nevertheless Tchaikovsky plays an important role in shaping his works, even though music historians have tended to overlook this fact. (learn more)
International Masterclasses Berlin
International Masterclasses Berlin is a group of motivated and exciting professional musicians led by conductor Gil Raveh, who is interested in changing the way orchestral music is studied, taught and performed. Our team consists of experienced musicians, producers, managers and teachers. (read more)
ABBEY ROAD LIVE!
Since 2006 “Abbey Road – Live!” concert was performed in a unique concert series in various concert halls and festivals in Israel. The aim of these concerts was to recreate the original Beatles’ recordings as faithfully as possible, in respect to both the characteristic “Beatles sound” and subtleties of performance. The concerts thus employed the musical instruments and equipment used by the Beatles in the late 60s, combined with Large Symphony Orchestra. (read more and watch video clips)