Composer Oliver Waespi’s new ‘Euphonium Concerto’ will receive its world premiere this week in Switzerland.
Baton
Performed by soloist Thomas Rüedi, it will be accompanied by the Zuger Sinfonietta under the baton of Philippe Bach at the Französische Kirche, Berne and Theater Casino Zug on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
The concerts will also feature further works by Frangis Ali-Sade and Arthur Honegger as well as marimba soloist Raphael Christen who will team up with Thomas Rüedi as the duo ‘Synthesis’. The concert in Zug will be recorded and broadcast by Radio SRF 2 Kultur.
New work
Oliver told 4BR a little more about the new work: "The concerto begins with spacious lines from the solo euphonium over widely spaced chords of the orchestra which seem to shimmer in a pale light.
Gradually, these chords begin to move, and the soloist develops an expressive lyricism bathed in fuller autumn colours. Suddenly, brisk, fragmented gestures interrupt the calm flow of the music, giving way to virtuosic, hunted rhythms which lead to different forms of groove."
Groove orientated
He added: "Although the initial cantilena is reappearing eventually for some time, groove-oriented music sets in again soon. The music represents memories of a past as well as conscience of the present at the same time. The solo euphonium thereby acts as a musical character which combines different stylistic features in itself."
The music represents memories of a past as well as conscience of the present at the same timeComposer, Oliver Waespi
Intertwined
Oliver continued: "Formally, these antagonistic layers are intertwined, while some structural elements ensure cohesion. For instance, a slowly pulsating chord progression reappears several times during the whole piece, not unlike some sort of chaconne.
The orchestra, far from being confined to a role of mere accompaniment, often interacts with the soloist. Every now and then individual instruments emerge from the orchestra in order to illuminate and the lines of the euphonium from different angles."
