Pintscher & Brahms

‘The universe was, is and will forever be an eternally living fire, which burns and dies out in a constant rhythm.’ It is not only Heraclitus but also Matthias Pintscher who harbours a fascination with fire. His work ‘NUR’ – Hebrew for ‘fire’ – vividly depicts the life cycle of a flame: from a gentle candlelight through a raging inferno to dying embers. The piano and ensemble complement one another with their contrasting timbres and seem to merge completely through skilful chamber-musical interplay. This is also essential in the final symphony by Johannes Brahms, who was often accused during his lifetime of writing symphonies that were merely glorified chamber music. He was also said to have lacked imagination, as his melodies and themes often seemed to arise almost of their own accord from brief ideas. Yet this is precisely where his great strength lies: in making densely orchestrated symphonies sound like chamber music, and in developing an entire work from short, unassuming motifs. A passionately stirring programme with Matthias Pintscher in the dual role of composer and conductor.