1822-Neujahrskonzert

The new musical year at the Alte Oper traditionally begins with a lively overture: the 1822 New Year's Concert by the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, a leading orchestra comprising music students from German universities. This time, the theme of 'overture' itself takes centre stage, inspired by the heroes Coriolanus and Leonore, and the ultimate star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Even Unsuk Chin's orchestral piece 'Subito con forza' is linked to an overture: that of Coriolanus. The Korean composer explicitly refers to it with typical Beethovenian gestures, setting an orchestral exclamation mark. One might also think of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy when hearing this piece, even if one has never heard it before: a virtuosic, triumphant work of power, almost like a piano concerto. While listening, one ponders the title until shortly before the end.