Schwerin Philharmonic
The Schwerin Philharmonic was a symphony orchestra that gave regular concerts from 1946 to 1992 in Schwerin , Güstrow , Ludwigslust , Wismar , Parchim and in many other places in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and in the GDR districts of Schwerin , Rostock and Neubrandenburg . It was partly recorded in the Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle Schwerin in 1992 .
history
Fritz Thiede, Kapellmeister at the Schwerin Theater , founded the later Schwerin Philharmonic in the autumn of 1946 as the Mecklenburg State Orchestra . The Orchester-GmbH was owned by the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (50%), the city of Schwerin (25%), the parties SED, CDU and LDPD as well as the FDGB . In the minutes of the Schwerin District Court on September 20, 1946 it was recorded: “The object of the company is to create and maintain an artistically valuable orchestra. In all cities of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the orchestra is primarily intended to be available to the above-mentioned bodies (meaning the partners - DL) and, in addition, to impart new spiritual strength to the choirs, work groups and the creative people through good music. "
The first 37 musicians gave their first concert on October 9, 1946 in the "Hotel am Zoll" in Klütz . Works by Beethoven, Grieg, Rossini, Delibes, Tschaikowski, Liszt and Claus Clauberg were played. The orchestra made its debut in Schwerin on October 27, 1946. Both concerts were announced under the motto “Voices of the Nations” and established a tradition. Each season a concert cycle was dedicated to the music of a country. In later years the cycle was called "Music of the Nations" and included z. For example, in the 1991/92 season on the occasion of Antonín Dvořák's 150th birthday, the focus was on Czech music.
The orchestra played in the 1946/47 season, it was sometimes divided into two groups and played at the same time in different places, 202 concerts for 156,000 listeners. It interpreted 397 works in 55 direct radio broadcasts. The musicians received between 260 and 280 marks a month for their work, Fritz Thiede received 450 marks. The conductors not only led the performances, but also deepened the listening experience with introductory lectures on the life and work of the respective composer. The programs offered a mixture of well-known works from the classical and romantic periods .
Despite the pioneering musical work, the orchestra was to be disbanded in 1950, according to the will of the state finance ministry. The economists saw the orchestra as unnecessary. The Ministry of Education successfully defended itself against this. It prevailed that the Mecklenburg State Orchestra could continue to play despite all the austerity measures. While the programs were initially characterized by a colorful variety, an artistic profiling process began in 1954 when it was renamed “Staatliches Sinfonieorchester Schwerin” , for which Werner Schöniger was responsible as the successor to Fritz Thiede from 1956. Schöniger directed the orchestra, which was systematically enlarged, until 1967. He was followed by Walter König as chief conductor until 1978. Under these two chief conductors, clear priorities were set with the tension between classical and romanticism and modernity , but the self-imposed task of reaching people in culturally less favored regions remained. From the beginning the orchestra played for preschool children, schoolchildren and apprentices. In some years there were up to 60 concerts (from large orchestras to chamber music groups). Many musicians also taught in music schools or privately.
Development to the Philharmonic
In 1978 Horst Förster was appointed chief conductor, who held this position for ten years. He restructured the orchestra into the Philharmonic . The orchestra was granted this status in 1980. In addition to the continuous examination of the musical heritage and contemporary work, the reception of the music of the pre-classical era became increasingly important. In 1988 Horst Förster left Schwerin. Wolfgang Friedrich directed the Philharmonie until 1990, having started in Meiningen and since 1980 as 1st Kapellmeister of the orchestra. Tilo Lehmann was chief conductor in the 1990/91 season. In 1991/92 Wolfgang Friedrich took over responsibility again.
Well- known guest conductors from home, European countries and overseas were on the podium, such as Rudolf Neuhaus, Heinz Fricke, Adolf-Fritz Guhl, Robert Hanell , Sheldon Morgenstern, John Carewe, Roberto Benzi and Pierre-Dominique Ponelle. Numerous domestic and foreign soloists such as Helge Rosvaenge , Bogna Sokorska, Annerose Schmidt , Siegfried Stöckigt , Burkhard Glaetzner (who also conducted), Ulf Hoelscher and Mischa Maisky took part. The Philharmonie regularly offered young talents the opportunity to perform. B. the violinist Antje Weithaas. The Schwerin Philharmonic was one of the medium-sized orchestras that rarely got the chance to perform abroad in the GDR. She traveled to Poland, Bulgaria and Hungary, played in the Netherlands after 1990. The orchestra was often a guest in German music centers such as Leipzig, Berlin and Hamburg.
In the first ten years of its existence alone, the orchestra performed the works of 64 composers who were still alive or who belong to classical modernism: Bartók, Chatschaturjan, Egk, Lutosławski, Prokofjew. The last world premiere by the Philharmonie took place on November 27, 1991. The second version of the concerto for three trumpets by Siegfried Matthus was heard for the first time. The soloists were the brothers Bernhard, Wolfgang and Hannes Läubin .
On July 19, 1991, the city representatives of Schwerin decided with a narrow majority to dissolve the Philharmonie on July 31, 1992. Protests by the musicians, the Schwerin population and fellow artists from abroad did not help. Lord Mayor Johannes Kwaschik announced: “The Philharmonic State Orchestra will be dissolved on July 31, 1992. The city is taking all possible steps to look for perspectives and socially acceptable solutions. These efforts include negotiations with the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the municipalities and districts that were previously venues. ” Those affected found out about the planned transaction by chance a few weeks before the decisive vote.
Sources and literature
- Holdings R 53 “Schweriner Philharmonie” (1946–1992) in the Schwerin City Archives
- Dietmar Langberg: Schweriner Philharmonie (Philharmonic State Orchestra Mecklenburg), In: Program of the Schweriner Philharmonie, season 1991/92, issue 16, Rundum Verlag, Schwerin, 1992
- ders .: New spiritual strength through good music, In: From the past and present of the orchestras in Mecklenburg, In: Mecklenburg-Magazin, Schwerin, 2004, p. 23
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Photocopy of the minutes of the Schwerin District Court from September 20, 1946 in the Schwerin City Archives , holdings "Schweriner Philharmonie" (1946–1992), R 53, 04. General Administration, 73.
- ↑ Dietmar Langberg: Sudden end in summer '92. History of the Schwerin Philharmonic 1946–1992, In: Mecklenburg-Magazin, Schwerin, 2001, p. 31