Jörg Widmann and Heinz Holliger at Lucerne Festival

As Composer-in-residence at this year’s Lucerne Festival, Jörg Widmann has been commissioned to write a new Oboe concerto for the legendary oboe player, conductor and composer Heinz Holliger. The world premiere will take place on 13th August with George Benjamin conducting the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Holliger taking centre stage as soloist; a second performance will take place on 30th August at the Cologne Philharmoninc Hall.

 

Widmann dedicated his new work to Holliger who celebrated his 70th birthday in May 2009. Both are distinguished composers as well as outstanding performers and share their a passion for the music of Robert Schumann.

Widmann comments on Heinz Holliger: “Although I never had any ‘official’ lessons with him, Heinz Holliger has become and will always remain a lifelong teacher to me. We have developed a friendship that started 10 years ago, in Davos, where he heard me playing Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke Op. 73 for the first time. Since then, we have performed together countless times, stood on (and behind) the stage, discussed, philosophised and made jokes. The next occasion will be the world premiere of my Oboe concerto which I dedicate to him in sincere friendship.”

 

With important works such as Siebengesang, Studie über Mehrklänge and Cardiophonie, Holliger revolutionised oboe playing in the 1960s and 70s. Now, Widmann has lifted elements from these works and placed them in his own homage to Holliger and with an “Overtura Francese” honours another side of Holliger’s persona: his passionate of early music.

 

Holliger has returned the gesture with a composition for Jörg Widmann: Rechant for solo clarinet which Widmann will premiere at Lucerne Festival on 5 September.

 

Further works by Jörg Widmann in the program of the Lucerne Festival: