Between The Bars

Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja is not only known for her extraordinary musical skills but also for the trailblazing staged projects, in which she does not shy away from current world issues.

In Les Adieux, a project of Patricia with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, she focuses on climate change and the rapid deterioration of our planet. How much time have we got left on Earth? When will our natural resources be used up? When will natural disasters, rising sea levels and new illnesses bring us to our knees?

The Between the Bars team met up with Patricia whilst touring through Hamburg. In the first episode of the 3-part series The Big Goodbye, they sat down with the controversial artist and discussed her motivation and drive for Les Adieux.

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'Les Adieux' is generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR", with the kind support of Rudolf Augstein Foundation.

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photo: Julia Wesely

For the final episode of Mozart Momentum: in conversation, we focus on "Mozart in our time".

How does our interpretation and performance of Mozart's works differ from when they were conveived 250 years ago? Host Yannick Dondelinger discusses the relevance, beauty and timelessness of Mozart's work in the last instalment of our mini-series with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and concertmaster Matthew Truscott.

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Special thanks to the voice acting of Michiel Commandeur, Stephanie Baubin, Matthias Mayr and Anna Costa.

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Generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR".

Everybody knows Mozart for his operas, symphonies and concert pieces, but not all know that he was a pioneer who fought for professional and artistic freedom. The composer is often considered the first musician who emancipated himself from the subordination of the feudal system and worked as a freelancer. What did those freelance days look like? How did it influence his compositions during that time? Answer these and more questions by joining us in part three of Mozart Momentum: in conversation: A freelancer is born. Together with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and violinist Matthew Truscott, host Yannick Dondelinger digs into the archives to unravel the life of Mozart, the freelancer.

Thanks to the voice acting of Michiel Commandeur and Stephanie Baubin.

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Generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR".

For the last seven years of his life, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a member of the Freemasons. How did the Masonic order influence the life and work of the composer? Find out in the second episode of Mozart Momentum: In Conversation, a four-part podcast series where host Yannick Dondelinger dives deep into two of the most creative years of Mozart's life together with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and violinist Matthew Truscott.

// Generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR".

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Special thanks to Stephanie Baubin for lending her voice to this episode.

1785/1786, two of the most fruitful years in Mozart's life as a composer, inspired the MCO and Leif Ove Andsnes to partner up for a multiyear recording- and performing project: Mozart Momentum 1785/1786.

As the second album of the project launches, focusing on the year 1786, Between the Bars hosts a four-part miniseries podcast exploring the life of Mozart in those two vital years.

In part one: 'Mozart Momentum in Conversation: The Inventor', we join host Yannick Dondelinger as he discusses Mozart as the inventor of the piano concerto and the importance of his presence in Vienna together with Leif Ove Andsnes and MCO concertmaster Matthew Truscott.

Special thanks to voice actors Michiel Commandeur, Stephanie Baubin and Matthias Mayr.

Generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR".

Imagine walking on stage in the middle of a concert, submerging yourself into the music as you walk between the musicians. With VR performances entering the terrain of classical music, this is no longer just a dream. Join our host Yannick Dondelinger in discussion with 3D sound specialist Henrik Oppermann and violinist Timothy Summers as they discover the wondrous world of virtual reality and its application to classical music. For a complete experience, we highly recommend listening to the episode with headphones.

Photo by Geoffroy Schied

Ever since he was a child, Sir George Benjamin wanted to be a composer. At only twenty years of age, his piece 'Ringed by the Flat Horizon' was played at the BBC Proms. Fourty years on and the MCO, under George's baton, will present the world premiere of 'Concerto for Orchestra' at the same event.

Tune in as host Yannick Dondelinger explores the uniqueness of this new work – composed for and dedicated to the MCO – and delves into the utterly fascinating mind of one of classical music's most beloved and inspiring creators.

For the next edition of Between the Bars, join host Yannick Dondelinger as he speaks with Paul Whittaker, deaf musician, performer and creative advisor of our Feel the Music education programme.

Exploring Paul's upbringing in 1960's England, this episode sheds light on a defining paradox of his life – the challenges of uniting music with deafness. He discusses how to shift the perception of what it means to experience music, and how Beethoven turned his own situation into creative triumph.

Taking inspiration from the composer's own experience, the MCO's educational project Feel the Music was developed in 2012 with MCO Artistic Partner Leif Ove Andsnes. We discuss this ground-breaking and unconventional project, and why it is important for everyone, regardless of hearing ability, to discover music on their own terms.

World-renowned tenor, opera director, novelist, cartoonist and artistic director of one of classical music's biggest festivals, the Salzburg Mozartwoche, Rolando Villazón is a man of many, many, many talents.

Join Rolando and host Yannick Dondelinger, plus MCO Violinist Anna Matz and Director of Artistic Planning Maggie Coe for a wide-ranging conversation about why music matters, how artists are coping in these unprecedented times, and why, after all these years, Mozart is still as relevant as ever.

What will the future look like? Sound like? Be like?

Delve into the multidisciplinary mind of MCO Artistic Partner Pekka Kuusisto, as together we probe the limits of the possible and imagine the impossible in the latest episode of Between the Bars.

With host Yannick Dondelinger we discuss climate change, holograms, the difficulties of having an original thought, and why women make better cars.

Plus, after months apart, hear MCO members talk about the joy of making music together again.