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Path to Democracy

October 30, 2009

Performed at a location that was once at the center of power, pianist Stefan Litwin's concert made it clear that music can be light years ahead of politics.

https://p.dw.com/p/JdGu
Stefan Litwin
Stefan LitwinImage: Barbara Frommann

Probably the most beautiful site along the Path to Democracy is Schaumburg Palace, once the residence of a Prussian princess and later of five German chancellors. Here pianist Stefan Litwin had the task of depicting the decade from 1959-1969 in music.

Listening to Gyorgy Ligeti’s "Poem symphonique" for 100 metronomes in the former office of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer was a fascinating experience. Stefan Litwin, born in Mexico, is known for devising concert programs that are full of variety and serious yet entertaining. This one included Leonard Bernstein’s captivating "Anniversaries," "Variations" by John Cage based on interview texts by Bob Dylan, an exciting early work by German composer Helmut Lachenmann and music by Karlheinz Stockhausen.

Program

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

Anniversaries

John Cage (1912-1992)

2 Realizations of “Variations II“ (with texts by Bob Dylan)

Helmut Lachenmann (1935-)

“Wiegenmusik” (Cradle Music)

Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007)

Klavierstück IX (Piano Piece IX)

Mauricio Kagel (1931-2007)

„MM 41“ for piano and metronome

Gyorgy Ligeti (1923-2006)

Poeme symphonique for 100 metronomes

Performed by

Stefan Litwin (piano)

musikFabrik soloists

Recorded by Deutsche Welle in Schaumburg Palace on Sept. 6, 2009.

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