Jan Vogler / Mira Wang / Royal Scottish National Orchestra / Peter Oundjian DOUBLE CONCERTOS

On 11 May 2018, German cellist Jan Vogler will release his new CD with Sony Classical: Together with violinist Mira Wang and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Peter Oundjian they have recorded double concertos by Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang Rihm and John Harbison.

Through Jan Vogler’s initiative two renowned contemporary composers – American John Harbison and German Wolfgang Rihm – were each to compose a work for violin, violoncello and orchestra, which will now be released as world premiere recording.
Both pieces – Wolfgang Rihm’s “Duo Concerto” as well as John Harbison’s “Double Concerto” – were premiered by Jan Vogler and his wife, violinist Mira Wang in the USA.

Jan Vogler and Mira Wang about this new recording:
"Brahms’ singular master work stood alone for over a century, without notable challenge by new compositions for the same unique instrumentation. We are happy and proud to have helped to bring two beautiful and strong double concertos to life. Wolfgang Rihm’s virtuous double concerto in one movement and John Harbison‘s poetic and symphonic work are framing Brahms’ double concerto on this CD. For us it feels like a completed circle, from the first idea through the creations and premieres, to the presentation on this recording."

SOFIA GUBAIDULINA In the mirror

To my mind the ideal relationship to tradition and to new compositional techniquesis the one in which the artist has mastered both the old and the new, though in a way which makes it seem that he is taking note of neither the one nor the other. There are composers who construct their works very consciously; I am one of those who 'cultivate' them. And for this reason everything I have assimilated forms as it were the roots of a tree, and the work its branches and leaves. One can indeed describe them as being new, but they are leaves nonetheless, and seen in this way they are always traditional and old. 

Dmitri Shostakovich and Anton Webern have had the greatest infiuence on my work. Although my music bears no apperent traces of it, these two composers taught me the most important lesson of all: to be myself. (Sofia Gubaidulina)