Work of the Week – Christian Jost: Intermezzo appassionato

In his Intermezzo appassionato Christian Jost presents a unique perspective on the classical instrumental genre. The work, commissioned by the Kammerakademie Potsdam, will be premiered under the baton of Antonello Manacorda on December the 3rd at the Nikolaisaal.

Originally used in the 18th century world of opera, the word ‘Intermezzo’ was defined as a scenic interlude. From the 19th century the term has more frequently been used to describe a movement or single movement piece within a larger instrumental work. For example: Robert Schumann’s Intermezzi woven between larger piano pieces, and the 18 piano Intermezzi by Johannes Brahms, including the famous Opus’ 117 and 118. Christian Jost paints his name into this historic list with his Intermezzo appassionato.

Christian Jost's Intermezzo appassionato: The Classical Form with New Ideas

Intermezzo appassionato, structured in the standard A-B-A form of the Classical Period, is indebted to the style of the symphonic-romantic era. Mixed up with modern elements this outstanding piece emerges in a delicately placed balance between the past and present.

[The] polytonality is microtonally condensed, especially in the elegiac B part, but never loses the romantic-innocent gesture which can be found, for example, in Robert Schumann's works. The virtuosity of the fanned-out orchestral treatment in the two A sections, in which each group in the orchestra follows its own individual line but is nevertheless part of the large-scale motif, in conjunction with the rapid basic tempo, creates a forward momentum that storms from one climax to the next in the nearly eight minutes of the Intermezzo. - Christian Jost

Throughout the coming year, the works of Jost will enjoy a lively performance on an international scale: Dichterliebe, a work based on themes by Robert Schumann and of particular significance to the composer receives the Swiss premiere on February the 15th in Biel. Following this, multiple performances of Reise der Hoffnung - Voyage vers l’espoir are scheduled in March 2023, his latest in an extensive collection of Operas.

Learn more:

• Christian Jost: Composer profile
• Intermezzo appassionato: Work details and online score
• Kammerakademie Potsdam

photo: Kartal Karadegik