Johannes Brahms

24 October - 6 November 2004
in BRASOV, ROMANIA
with
MAESTRO JORMA PANULA,
the BRASOV PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
and
PIANIST ANDREI DELEANU

Carl Nielsen

Distinguished conductor and
conducting pedagogue, MAESTRO JORMA PANULA will lead the Mastercourse/Symposium.

Maestro Panula has conducted major orchestras on all continents and was professor of conducting in his native Finland at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (since 1973). He presently teaches conducting courses at the Stockholm Royal Academy, and formerly taught at the Copenhagen Royal Academy.

Panula is in demand as an effective teacher of conducting mastercourses throughout the world. Several of his former students are now music directors of major orchestras, including Esa Pekka Salonen (LA Philharmonic), Osmo Vanska (Minnesota Orchestra, Lahti Symphony), Jukka Pekka Saraste (Toronto Symphony), Sakari Oramo (City of Birmingham Symphony, Finnish Radio Symphony), and Petri Sakari (formerly Iceland Symphony). The BBC has labeled him as one of the 60 most influential musicians alive today.

Brasov inaugurated its concert life with the Philharmonic Orchestra Society (Philharmonische Gesellschaft) on 6 May 1878, in a program that included Mozart's overture to Die Zauberflote and the Beethoven Sixth Symphony, with Anton Brandner conducting. Since then, the Brasov Philharmonic has performed the entire standard repertoire. Historically significant were appearances by such musical luminaries as Johann Strauss Jr., Josef Joachim, Johannes Brahms, Richard Strauss, Felix Weingartner, George Enescu and Edwin Fischer.

After the difficult war years, conductor Dinu Nicolescu led a reorganization, developing an exceptional orchestra by 1962-1963, when it received national recognition. The late 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's were dominated by the personality of conductor I. Ionescu-Galati, who brought the orchestra international prominence, performing with prestigious artists, and touring with both chamber and symphonic-sized groups.

Beginning with 1996, the general manager and chief conductor of the Brasov Philharmonic has been Ovidiu Dan Chirila; its resident soloists are Florin Ionescu Galati, violin, and Anton Niculescu, violoncello. Conductors who have appeared with the orchestra have included Kiril Kondrasin, Carlo Zecchi, Kurt Woss, and Edward Civjilan; soloists have included IgorBezrodnai, Dmitri Baskirov, Aldo Ciccolini, Radu Lupu, Mihaela Ursuleasa, Viktor Tretiakov, Li-Min-Cean, Jean Jacques Kantorow, Rudolf Kerer, Lola Bobescu, Yvry Gitlis, Mihail Fichtengolz, Ion Voicu, Stefan Ruha, Valentin Gheorghiu, Dan Grigore, Silvia Marcovici, Mihaela Martin, Vladimir Orlov, Marin Cazacu, Radu Andulescu, and others. The Brasov Philharmonic Orchestra has also recorded widely for a variety of record labels.

The Romanian pianist, Andrei Deleanu, besides being one of Romania's most gifted and sought-after piano soloists, is a professor of piano at the National Conservatory of Music in Bucharest and was general director of the Black Sea Philharmonic in Constanta, Romania between 2001-2003. Fluent in German, French, and English, Mr. Deleanu will rehearse and perform the Brahms First Piano Concerto, present a general session for conductors on the conductor/soloist partnership, and offer conductors private coaching sessions (optional) on most of the major piano concerto repertoire (Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann, Tchaikovsky).

Mr. Deleanu's general session will include: a general presentation about the soloist's 'hopes and fears' before meeting the conductor; the first meeting between conductor and soloist (what to do, avoid, etc.); understanding the partner; what is 'difficult' for the conductor/for the soloist; who's in charge (who leads, who follows); compromise and negotiation; techniques & facts; diagnosis of problems; examples from Beethoven and Brahms piano concerti.

SESSIONS ON ERRATA AND OTHER PERFORMANCE PRACTICE ISSUES IN THE ORCHESTRAL WORKS OF CARL NIELSEN

The American conductor, composer, violinist, arranger, and editor, DAVID RAHBEE, is professionally successful and active in all these roles on both sides of the Atlantic. Now based in Vienna, Austria, Mr. Rahbee has worked extensively with conductors and librarians with the Boston Symphony, the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper), and the Boston Pops in the preparation for performance of scores and parts. He will present sessions on errata in the symphonic works of Carl Nielsen, with primary focus on the works to be performed during the Masterclass. Mr. Rahbee will also prepare the materials to be rehearsed and performed during the Masterclass and guide conductors in making corrections to their scores and parts.

Despite the recent publication of a new Nielsen edition (which should be free of errors), many conductors still possess and use older, problematic material. Mr. Rahbee has contacts and affiliations with several Scandinavian orchestras with whom Carl Nielsen worked, and will present information (bowings, performance traditions, etc.) based on his research of their libraries and discussions with librarians, concertmasters, conductors, etc.

The Symposium/Mastercourse will begin on 24 October and conclude with its final concert on 6 November 2004. The event will take place in the rehearsal and performance halls of the BRASOV PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA and focus on selected orchestral works of Johannes Brahms and Carl Nielsen with a full symphony orchestra. There will be 16 rehearsals and four public concerts (27 & 30 October and 3 & 6 November) with presentations and discussions.

Sixteen (16) conductors will be selected as active participants from the applicants -- these conductors should be experienced professionals who want to deepen their knowledge of the Brahms and Nielsen orchestral repertoire and its interpretation. Each of the conductors will have daily podium time and conduct on one of four public concerts with equal time. Up to ten (10) auditors will also be selected -- auditors need not have significant professional conducting experience, but should be experienced conductors with an interest in Brahms/Nielsen and/or conducting technique, or others who are simply interested in the orchestral works of these great composers. Those auditors who are experienced conductors may also conduct during one or more rehearsals.

Conductors are urged to bring ALL SCORES to the Masterclass, even if they are not planning on conducting some of the works to be rehearsed and performed. It is also strongly recommended conductors attend all presentations (two on Nielsen by Mr. David Rahbee, one on the conductor as accompanist by piano soloist Andrei Deleanu, and possibly one or two by Maestro Panula).

Conducting assignments for the public performances will be made by Maestro Panula. Each will be asked to list the works they prefer to conduct on a public concert and efforts will be made to accommodate their wishes. However, the decisions of Maestro Panula and/or the Masterclass administration are final.

SEVERAL MASTERCOURSE CONDUCTORS (SELECTED BY MAESTRO PANULA) WILL BE OFFERED A CONCERT WITH THE BRASOV PHILHARMONIC IN 2005.

The fee for the course is 2,050 EUR (for active participants) and 500 EUR (for auditors) EXCLUDING travel, accommodation and meals.
Please note that participants and auditors should apply for the full course -- it is not possible to register for only a portion of it.

NB -- THE COURSE IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 16 QUALIFIED CONDUCTORS (ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS) WHO:
1) CONFIRM THEIR INTENTION OF PARTICIPATION;
2) PAY A DEPOSIT OF 308 EUR (15% THE COURSE FEE); AND
3) ARE ACCEPTED/APPROVED.
THE DEPOSIT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED IF A CONDUCTOR CANCELS AFTER 9 SEPTEMBER 2004.

We have negotiated the following rates at the Hotel "Coroana" -- 27 EUR per night for a single; 36 EUR per night for a double (two conductors could share at 18 EUR EACH) -- breakfast is included and all rooms have full bath. Less expensive accommodations may also available. The hotel is very close to rehearsal and performance halls.

Brasov, Romania is easily reached by train or auto from either Budapest, Vienna or Bucharest and is three hours by car from Otopeni International Airport in Bucharest. The Philharmonic will provide ground transportation to and from Bucharest.

Although the repertoire list is extensive, conductors will conduct and prepare pieces of their choice (whenever possible). They should, however, be familiar with most of the repertoire; there will be opportunities for them to "get their feet wet" with unfamiliar repertoire (to them) in a supportive and "low pressure" context.