June 24, 2010, Thursday 9.30 pm
Celsus Library, Ephesus
“SOUVENIR DE BOHÈME”
THE PHILHARMONICS
Tibor Kovac: Conductor, 1st violin
Shkelzen Doli: 2nd violin
Thilo Fechner: viola
Stephan Koncz: cello
Ödön Racz: double bass
Daniel Ottensamer: clarinet
Frantisek Janoska: piano
Programme
Part 1
Maurice Ravel (Arr. Tibor Kovac): Tziganne
René Staar (Arr. Shkëlzen Doli, Tibor Kovac): Sephardische Weisen
* Impro Shkëlzen Doli & František Jánoška
Leopold Godowsky (Arr. Tibor Kovac): Alt Wien
Astor Piazzolla (Arr. Tibor Kovac): Libertango
John Williams (Arr. Tibor Kovac): Schindlers list
Tibor Kovac: Souvenir de Bohème
* Impro Tibor Kovac & František Jánoška
Intermission
Part 2
Johann Strauss (Arr. Tibor Kovac): Pasman Csardas
Johannes Brahms (Arr. Rene Staar): Ung.Tanz No. 20
Chick Corea (Arr.: Kristian Seidmann): Spain
Impro Tibor Kovac & František Jánoška
Antonio Bazzini (Arr. Tibor Kovac): La Ronde des Lutins
Richard Rodgers (Arr. František Jánoška / Tibor Kovac): My
favourite things
Tibor Kovac: Yiddishe Mame
George Enescu (Arr. Mister Rudd): Romanian Rhapsody Nr.1
Perform with style and quality…
“The Philharmonics” perform a wide spectrum of popular pieces from the classical music repertoire, as well as making excursions into the worlds of klezmer, gipsy music and jazz. After their Salzburg-debut during the Summer Festival 2008 visitors and critics were both enthusiastic stating it’s absolutely stunning to hear “The Philharmonics” in concert. One of them, Maistro Zubin Mehta, summarized his impressions in five words: “The Philharmonics -virtuosic, exceptional, and fascinating!” Their repertoire they present is extraordinary: a mixture of “Balkans”-sounds combined with tunes from Eastern Europe, Russia and classical repertoire with a perfect philharmonic sound, authentic performance and high virtuosity. The Ensemble just recorded its first CD mid of October (label: Sony bmg) with works amongst others by Chick Corea, Johann Strauss, George Enescu, Maurice Ravel, John Williams, Grigoraþ Dinicu, Nikolai Rimski-Korsakow, Michel Camilo.
The members of this very distinguished ensemble are prizewinners of international competitions, and perform regularly as soloists. In addition, except the pianist they are all members of the Vienna Philharmonic. Their sparkling virtuosity is combined with extensive experience in chamber music and creative musical ideas which cross all borders.
Tibor Kovac – Conductor, Violin
Tibor Kovac was born in Levice in the Slovak Republic. He began learning to play the violin with his father at the age of four. He studied at the Bratislava Conservatory, at the Prague Academy, and at the Vienna Academy. He later continued his studies with A. Staar and B. Kuschnir, and also participated in master classes with Z. Bron and I. 0istrach. Tibor Kovac has been a prizewinner at several competitions (i.e. M. Abbado, L. van Beethoven, J. Joachim), and since 1992 has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic as principal second violinist. He has performed as soloist and chamber musician in Europe, Japan, Taiwan, and the USA. His chamber music experience includes work with “Ensemble Wien”, and the “Wiener Virtuosen”, and he is currently the leader of “The Philharmonics“.
Tibor Kovac has played as soloist with the “Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra”, the “Slovak Radio Orchestra”, the “Virtuosi di Praga”, the “Janacek Philharmonie Ostrava”, the Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra“, the “F. Liszt Chamber Orchestra”, the “Camerata Academica Salzburg”, the “Orchestre de la Suisse Romande” and the “DSO Berlin”. Amongst his most successful appearances have been the “Golden Plakat” concerts in the Brahmssaal of the Musikverein in Vienna. Tibor Kovac had the privilege of playing on the Guarneri del Gesu Violin, which once belonged to the famous Fritz Kreisler, for a concert in the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York, and he currently performs on the Antonio Stradivari, Cremona 1724 “ex Rawark” violin, which is a loan from the Austrian National Bank.
In addition to having recorded music of Vivaldi, Kreisler and Beethoven, Tibor Kovac has also recorded an "Opera fantasy" CD, and a complete collection of Paganini’s 24 Capricci, which was released in November 2005 by Gramola in Vienna. His newest release is a live CD at Philartis Vienna, featuring the Double concerto by Johannes Brahms with the principal cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic, Franz Bartolomey. In 2007, Tibor Kovac played a recital with Lambert Orkis in Washington D.C., and also perormed the violin concerto No. 2 by Béla Bartók in St. Petersburg at the “Stars of the White Nights 2007” festival with the Mariinsky Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev.
Shkëlzen Doli – Violin
Shkëlzen Doli, a native Albanian and former student of the famous Russian violin professor Evgenia Tchugaeva, built the foundation of his musicianship upon the discipline and virtuosity of the Russian violin school, and later enriched his artistic skill with elements of the Viennese violin school and the distinctive musical style and sound of the Vienna Philharmonic, with whom he has worked for many years. The winner of the 1st Prize in the National Yugoslavian Competition for Young Musicians at the age of 17, Shkëlzen Doli has toured Europe, North America, Africa, Israel and Japan as both soloist and chamber musician. He has performed with renowned chamber music ensembles of the Vienna Philharmonic, such as the “Wiener Virtuosen”, and the “Toyota Master Players”, as well as with the contemporary music “Ensemble Wiener Collage”. Since 2006 he has been a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic, and recently accepted an invitation to become one of the co-founders of “The Philharmonics”.
Thilo Fechner – Viola
Thilo Fechner was born into a musical family in Berlin in 1968. In 1987, after his primary studies, he turned to the professional study of music at the University of the Arts in Berlin with Hans Joachim Greiner. Thilo Fechner was then encouraged to study in New York with Karen Tuttle at the Juilliard School between 1990 and 1992, where he acquired his Masters Degree. Upon returning to Berlin, he studied with Wilfried Strehle, the principal Violist of the Berlin Philharmonic, and completed his studies there with distinction. He was granted the Ferenc Fricsay scholarship and continued his studies with Bruno Guranna. He was a member of the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1993 to 1995.
Thilo Fechner was appointed to the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva in 1996, where he stayed for a year before joining the Munich Philharmonic. In the summers of 1999 and 2000, he participated in the Bayreuth Festival. In 2004, he became a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, and was granted membership in the Vienna Philharmonic in 2007. Thilo Fechner recently accepted an invitation to become a member of “The Philharmonics”.
Stephan Koncz – Cello
Stephan Koncz was born in Vienna in 1984 into an Austro-Hungarian family of musicians, and at the age of 8 began his study of the cello at the University of Music und Performing Arts in Vienna with Valentin Erben of the Alban Berg Quartet. In 2000 he continued his studies with the principal cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic, Róbert Nagy, and additionally pursued a double-major in conducting and composition.
An avid chamber musician, Mr. Koncz has collaborated with Julian Rachlin, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, "The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic", and has participated in master classes with Steven Isserlis, Daniel Barenboim, and Heinrich Schiff. As an orchestral musician, Mr. Koncz works regularly with eminent orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic. In 2005 Stephan Koncz was appointed principal cellist of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra. Between 2006 and 2008 he held a scholarship for the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, studying with Ludwig Quandt. Stephan Koncz was awarded a position in the Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Vienna Philharmonic beginning in September 2008. Stephan Koncz recently accepted an invitation to become a member of “The Philharmonics”.
Ödön Rácz – Double bass
Ödön Rácz was born in 1981 in Budapest and began his study of the string bass at the age of nine at the Staatsgrundschule. He gave his first public solo performance at the Budapest Music Academy in 1994, and then continued his studies at the Music Conservatory of St. Stephan with Gergely Járdanyi, a former student of Ludwig Streicher. In 2001 he transferred to the University of Music und Performing Arts in Vienna, where he was accepted into the class of long-time Philharmonic principal bassist Alois Posch. Following a successful audition, he became a member of the string bass section in the Vienna State Opera Orchestra on September 1, 2004. Even at a very young age, Ödön Rácz won several prizes and competitions, such as that of Hungarian Television in 1996, the Euro Grand Prix in 2000, and the International Johann Prunner Competition 2002, and culminating in a third prize at the prestigious ARD-Competition in 2003. After the appearance of his first recording in 1997, featuring works by Giovanni Bottesini, Johann Matthias Sperger and Hans Fryba, he recorded the Double Concerto by Bottesini for Hungaroton. In addition, he has made solo appearances with the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, the George Enescu Orchestra and the Hungarian Virtuoso Orchestra. Ödön Racz recently accepted an invitation to become a member of “The Philharmonics”.
Daniel Ottensamer – Clarinett
Daniel Ottensamer was born in 1986 in Vienna. He studied the clarinet at the University of Music and performing Arts in Vienna in the class of Prof. Johann Hindler. He is a winner of such famous international competitions as the Animato-Competition in Zurich and the Musica-Juventutis Cometition in Vienna, and received one of the prizes at the "Großer Förderpreis” in Munich. Beginning in 2009, he will assume a position with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Vienna Philharmonic.
Daniel Ottensamer has made numerous solo appearances with well known orchestras, such as the Munich Radio Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Chamber orchestra, performing in such prominent concert halls as the Vienna Musikverein, Vienna Konzerthaus, Rudolfinum Prag, and the Prinzregententheater Munich. Completing the list of musical appearances of this young musician is also a large number of chamber music concerts, many with members of the Vienna Philharmonic. Daniel Ottensamer recently accepted an invitation to become a member of “The Philharmonics”.
Frantisek Janoska – Piano
Frantisek Janoska was born in 1986 in Bratislava into a musical family, who noticed his absolute pitch during his early childhood. At the age of five he started to play the piano, studying at the State Conservatory in Bratislava and later on continuing his studies at the University of Music and performing Arts in Vienna. Frantisek Janoska is also active as a composer who writes in both the classical and jazz veins, and makes arrangements of other works as well. Even at a very early age, Frantisek Janoska began winning prizes at various competitions: 1994 -Dezider Kardos piano competition in Slovakia, 1st prize (He was considered to be the youngest and most talented competitor ever.) 1995 -Johann Nepomuk Hummel competition in Bratislava (Slovakia), 1st prize 1998 -European competition of young talents in Revuca (Slovakia), 1st prize (Here he performed his own composition.) 2002 -International Liszt Ferenc competition in Hungary, 1st prize 2004 -Banska Bystrica, 1st prize (among the most distinguished pianists from Slovakia) 2006 – Admittance to the final round of the international competition Martial Solal in Paris.
Frantisek Janoska fascinates his audiences through his performances of Jazz. He is a member of the jazz quartet No Limit, which won a jazz competition in Straubing, Germany. This afforded him the opportunity to record a CD and participate in the international jazz festival “Jazz an der Donau” in Germany. Here he had the privilege of meeting famous musicians such as BB King, Roy Hargrove, George Benson, and others. Janoska and his quartet appeared at the festival in Getxo (Spain), alongside artists such as John Scofield and his trio. In 2006 Frantisek Janoska became a member of the Roby Lakatos ensemble, which tours worldwide to places like the U.S.A (Carnegie Hall), Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, Austria (Vienna Musikverein), Sweden, Italy, Turkey, Holland, Belgium, China, United Arabian emirates, Scotland, Germany and many other countries. During these tours he has been featured with numerous great artists such as Bireli Lagrene and Michel Camilo. Recent projects of Frantisek Janoska include a Trio with Georg Breinschmid (double bass) and Frantisek’s brother, the violinist Roman Janoska. He recently accepted an invitation to become a member of “The Philharmonics”. Frantisek Janoska performs regularly in various international concert halls as a classical and jazz pianist. He plays as a soloist and as a chamber musician, sharing the stage with internationally known artists.
THE PHILHARMONICS
Program: “Souvenir de Bohème”
In the German language area the use of the term gipsy (Zigeuner) for Sinti & Romanies has been under close scrutiny for considerable time, as it has come to be regarded by some as politically incorrect. This is not the case, however, when gypsy is used to denote a musical category. When concertgoers whisper to each other “He plays like a primas“ (the first fiddler in a gypsy band) after a particularly heartfelt solo, this is clearly meant as a supreme compliment which might, in special cases, even be applied for the decidedly non-gypsy concertmasters of philharmonic orchestras in a highly complimentary way.
This is the tradition to which the PHILHARMONICS proudly subscribe, a soloists ensemble led by Tibor Kovacs, whose instrumental wizardry is due to the fact that most of its members originally come from the world-famous Wiener Philharmoniker. Exploding traditional conventions that strictly and stupidly separate serious classical music from light music, the PHILHARMONICS‘ eclectic repertoire harkens back to music that inspired composers from Joseph Haydn to Johannes Brahms, Franz Liszt and Maurice Ravel.
The ensemble’s style of playing – spirited and exuberant, combining supreme virtuosity with deeply-felt emotional intensity – impressively evokes the travelling folk that became virtually synonymous with free and soulful playing in the old crownlands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Thus, the basic repertoire of the PHILHARMONICS consists of music that originated from the improvisation-based compositions of the travelling bands and helped inspire the inventiveness of great composers.
For an ensemble with strong ties to the Wiener Philharmoniker, Johann Strauss naturally serves as a major and ideal intermediary. After all, he wasn’t only the “king of waltzes“, but also a master of czardas, the dance that like no other embodies the apex of musical performance in the Hungarian part of the Habsburg Monarchy. The czardas‘ improvisatory nature, with its slow and languishing introduction and furiously played explosive finale, is considered the archetype of all music later summarily called Hungarian. Almost all of Liszt’s famous rhapsodies are constructed along these lines and provide their performers with ample opportunity for both improvisatory fireworks and circus-like artistic panache.
Accordingly, the PHILHARMONICS‘ programme contains the central section of Johann Strauss’s single opera, “Ritter Pasman“, the only title from the operetta master’s ambitious attempt to infiltrate the opera genre to attain true popularity. It immediately provides Tibor Kovacs with an opportunity to demonstrate that creativity is a basic element of a primas‘ attitude towards music, by making the composition his own. While Strauss‘ original composition remains clearly identifiable, this is also the work of the popular philharmonic soloist and his faithful companions, thus bridging the gap to the attitude with which jazz musicians – kindred spirits – approach their material, namely to turn a standard into something else again by adding the players‘ individual approaches. Thus it comes as no surprise that even a composition by keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea, Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango”, Richard Rodgers’ “My favourite things” or a track from John Williams‘ classic score for “Schindler’s list“ suit the PHILHARMONICS‘ style perfectly. Tibor Kovacs‘ free metamorphoses of traditional songs (including the solitaire-like appearance of “Yiddishe Mame“) thus share this program with Sephardic tunes craftily condensed by René Staar, a colleague from the Wiener Philharmoniker and a leading avant-garde composer of our days in his own right.
By also featuring major jazz pianist and composer Michel Camino, another element is added to this potent brew before this instant classic of “serious & light music“ fusion comes to its conclusion, in a passionate finale. Granted, Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov’s famous “Flight of the Bumblebee“ has been arranged a few times before, but hardly ever with such natural nonchalance. Who is likely, while marvelling at Ödön Racz‘ stunning virtuosity on the double bass, to remember that this famous tune was once no more than an (admittedly highly original) interlude in an opera? Making this composition completely their own, the musicians build on its fundament a performance of melody instruments whose elegance would do tightrope artists proud. Thus everything is turned upside down and downside up until, in the form of Ravel’s “Tzigane“, a sense of order is reintroduced. This composition – expressly conceived as a virtuoso piece – is a reflection of the French maestro’s impressions of gypsy bands and his attempt to compose another “Hungarian Rhapsody” that leads from a brooding begin to a veritable instrumental explosion. Ravel’s composition, published in two versions, was rearranged by Tibor Kovacs for his ensemble for this occasion.
And then, beside Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian dance No. 20 and Antonio Bazzini’s virtuoso violin-masterpiece “La Ronde des Lutins”, there is Leopold Godowsky, another piano virtuoso respected by his contemporaries, who arranged Viennese tunes for his own purposes into the shape of a charming piano vignette, another occasion for the PHILHARMONICS to explore their favourite territory, before they launch into a Romanian variation of the rhapsodic art, composed by violin maestro Georges Enescu, thus bridging the gaps between Old Vienna and the remotest area of the former Austrian crownlands, and doing it in a manner as musically playful as they did with every single one of their programme’s many and multifaceted musical reinventions.