»Company«, the title of Philip Glass’s incidental music for Samuel Beckett’s play of the same name, could very well serve as a motto for the Hamburg Camerata’s 40-year history. The violinist Albrecht Menzel has been closely associated with the orchestra for decades, quite literally.
He still plays today on the Stradivarius which he earned whilst on a scholarship from the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben – itself a long-standing partner of the Hamburger Camerata. As a soloist in the string version of Beethoven’s »Kreutzer Sonata« and as conductor from the concertmaster’s desk, Menzel brings the »play & lead« concept to life.
One might suppose that Peter Tchaikovsky also wrote his enchanting string serenade as a form of relaxation – a respite from his own music. For, at the same time as composing the serenade, the composer was working in the summer of 1880 on the martial – and, to him, not particularly beloved – battle scene »1812 Overture«. However, writing to his publisher about his Opus 48, the composer said: »Whether it is because it is my latest creation, or because it really isn’t bad, in any case I am terribly in love with my serenade.« You can still hear it today.
PERFORMERS
Hamburger Camerata orchestra
Albrecht Menzel violin and director
PROGRAM
Philip Glass
Streichquartett Nr. 2 »Company« (Fassung für Streichorchester)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major, Op. 47 »Kreutzer Sonata«
Piotr I. Tschaikowsky
Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48
