Jörg Widmann, Part 1: World Recognized Composer, Clarinetist, and Conductor - Current Composer-in-Residence for the Berlin Philharmonic!

Anthony Plog on Music

Jörg Widmann is one of the most versatile and fascinating classical artists in the world today. He is one of the world's most recognized modern composers, with premiers by major orchestras around the world. He has also appeared as a clarinet soloist with many of the world's top ensembles. As a conductor, he was the Music Director of the Irish Chamber Orchestra for ten years. His body of work is amazing, so I wanted to find out... how has he been able to accomplish so much in such a short time? He was gracious enough to take time out of his very busy schedule to speak with me.
A defining quality for Jörg is his curiosity. He talks about how this curiosity began in his childhood. While discussing his curiosity and studies at Juilliard, we fall into the subject of German vs. French clarinet systems. We then use three pieces to discuss in depth how he approaches composition: His massive oratorio ARCHE, his Ad Absurdum, written for trumpeter Sergei Nakariakov, and finally, the Trumpet Concerto he wrote for Håkan Hardenberger. Jörg also talks about the similarities in his mind between Miles Davis... and Pierre Boulez.

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