Organ Concert: Katharina Königsfeld / Melton Tuba Quartett

The Bamberg-born organist Katharina Königsfeld is known for her often unconventional concert performances. On this occasion, she is set to captivate audiences with a surprising musical alliance: she is joining forces with the Melton Tuba Quartet, which also features our long-standing orchestra member Heiko Triebener. Founded in 1987, the ensemble describes itself as »the one and only professional tuba quartet in Germany – and not a well-behaved one at that«. The programme combines popular classics with a fresh twist and a few new discoveries: the concert opens with the »Grand Chœur« by the Romantic composer Alexandre Guilmant and Rossini’s furious »Tarantella napoletana«. The Baroque pieces are also full of rhythm: the »Badinerie« from Bach’s Orchestra Suite No. 2, the march from his cantata »Auf, schmetternde Töne der muntern Trompeten« – and an excerpt from André Campras’s opera »Idoménée«. The contemporary composer Enjott Schneider believes that the game of »Tarot« is »a metaphor for life«, which in his work represents, among other things, the »joy of movement«. Henri Mullet’s festive piece »Carillon-Sortie« from 1911 then imitates the ringing of bells. Next comes the 1967 worldwide hit »What a Wonderful World«, as well as Brazilian soundscapes by Echo Klassik Prize winner Wolf Kerschek. The beautiful ballad »The Carol of the Angels« was composed by folk singer John Jacob Niles, who died in 1980 – and plenty of momentum is added at the end of the concert by Rossini’s rapid Allegro from the overture to »William Tell« and the timeless »Flower Waltz« from Tchaikovsky’s »Nutcracker«.