Frankfurt Radio Symphony Announces New Season

Isn't this a glamourpuss photo! Out of all the pix we've seen of PJ with his hand on his chin, this may be our favorite. (Just check out that big grin!) Let's send a Paavo Project Bravo! out to photographer Tim Wegner.

And part of the big news in this press release from the Frankfurt Radio Symphony is that Paavo will be making his return to London's Proms next year to show off his great new band, as well as playing at Amsterdam's reknowned Concertgebouw. We also like the idea of “Kraft-Werke” -- a "festival of sound" appealing to contemporary music lovers. How about something like that for Cincinnati?

New Worlds of Repertoire and Sound
The Frankfurt Radio Symphony’s concert season 2006/2007 with Paavo Järvi

Paavo Järvi, Chief Conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, announces a common departure into new worlds of repertoire and sound for the concert season 2006/2007. The Estonian conductor takes over a versatile and highly innovative top class orchestra from Hugh Wolff. The upcoming season holds in store interesting programmes, renowned artists, and extraordinary new projects. “We’re looking forward to this ‘departure’ full of excitement and content”, says Dr. Helmut Reitze, Director of the German public broadcasting station Hessischer Rundfunk (hr).

Igor Strawinsky’s music will play an important role in the symphony concerts at Frankfurt’s Alte Oper not only in the upcoming, but also in subsequent seasons. `Departure`is the motto of these concerts. Special attention is given to Nordic composers. Some rarely performed works such as Sibelius’ “Kullervo” Symphony will be presented as well as a new piano concert by Estonian Erkki-Sven Tüür. Mahler and Bruckner will be part of the programmes just as will be other works of the classic and modern classic periods. In Shostakovich’s jubilee year, his “Leningrad Symphony” and his film music for the spectacular motion picture “Odna” will be given.

Top rank artists such as Andrew Litton, Heinz Holliger, Matthias Goerne, Tabea Zimmermann, and Thomas Zehetmair will appear as guest performers, as well as aspiring young talents. Once again the Frankfurt Radio Symphony will be given the opportunity to prove its artistic quality abroad. The musicians will perform as ambassadors of Frankfurt, the state of Hesse, and Germany: Hugh Wolff takes the orchestra on a concert tour to South America. With new Chief Conductor Paavo Järvi, the hr musicians will play at Concertgebouw Amsterdam and for the first time ever at the London Proms.

Innovation, fondness of experimenting, and joy of discovery have always been important elements in this orchestra’s work, and many ideas already have been imitated by others. “We are happy about this. It shows that we have obviously chosen the right way” says Carsten Dufner, hr Music Director.

The upcoming season focuses on two projects. There will be a new biennial festival of sound named “Klang-Biennale”. The first edition entitled “Kraft-Werke” appeals to devotees of Contemporary Music. In addition, a “Music Discovery Project” aims at young people.

Several highlights can be found in all of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony‘s concert series such as entertaining “Variations”, “Debuts” featuring young artists, or “Baroque+” concerts. There will also be a project including the hr Bigband. Fabulous Bob Brookmeyer is going to write music for both of the orchestras. “Baroque+” concerts will feature Emmanuelle Haïm and British baroque violinist Andrew Manze.

hr’s manifold subscription offers remain unchanged during the concert season 2006/2007, as well as the “hr music card”, company discounts, and half price tickets for students. Ticket- and subscription prices will be kept stable. hr Ticketcenter’s Subscriber Service (Telephone 069 155 4111 and abo@hr-ticketcenter.de) will answer all questions.

A leaflet listing all concerts is available through Hessischer Rundfunk, hr-ticketcenter, Bertramstrasse 8, 60320 Frankfurt, Telephone 069 155 2000. Subscriptions can be made right now. Tickets will be sold starting July 3, 2006.

Hessischer Rundfunk
Bertramstraße 8
60320 Frankfurt am Main