German musicians contribute to Jakarta's music scene

JAKARTA (JP): It has been a while since German classical musicians performed in Jakarta. Quite a noticeable gap when you consider that up to about four years ago they frequently visited Jakarta.

This year, though, their presence will be quite strong, at the current Jakarta International Festival of the Performing Arts and outside it: one chamber orchestra followed by visits of four pianists.

The Cologne Chamber Orchestra is one of the foremost German orchestral groups with a distinguished record of performances going back to when it was established in the late twenties. It has 30 members and has been directed by Helmut Mueller-Bruehl since the early 60s. Under his leadership the group has become the permanent orchestra at the Augustusburg Palace. The roster of famous names who have worked with the orchestra is impressive, and includes, Jorg Demus, Pierre Fournier, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Wolfgang Scheiderhan and Igor Oistrakh.

Their performance, at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta today, will be a treat especially for lovers of the baroque and early classical periods, the speciality of the orchestra. The program features works by Johann Christian Bach (youngest son of Johann Sebastian), Saverio Mercadante and W.A. Mozart. Two concertos will be presented, a flute concerto by Mercadante and Mozart's oboe concerto in C. It is Bach's work that is of special interest as he is generally regarded as instrumental in establishing the classical style.

Following the Cologne Chamber Orchestra's performance, monthly piano recitals will be given by four young German artists who have already made their mark on the international circuit. All performances will be held at Erasmus Huis, and span a wide range of musical styles, from Mozart to Heinz Holliger, a Swiss composer born in 1939, whose work contains elements of Indian musical rhythms.

The series begins on Sept. 10 with Lars Vogt performing compositions by Haydn, Brahms and Schubert. Next, on Oct. 10, Heidrun Holtmann will perform Schumann, Scriabin, Debussy and Ravel and will be followed on Nov. 7 by Claudius Tanski performing Bach-Busoni, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and paraphrases by Liszt of works by Schubert, Schumann and Verdi. Finally, Rolf Plagge will appear on Dec. 6 with compositions by Mozart, Chopin, Scriabin and Rachmaninov.

--Gus Kairupan