Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy FoundationInformation

June 2010

Brilliant Mendelssohn Gala 2010

The famous Leipzig Gewandhauswas once more the generous host ofthe Mendelssohn Gala, when theChairman of the Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Foundation Burkhard Junghanded out this year's LeipzigInternational Mendelssohn Prize.

In the “Music” category the Chinesepianist Lang Lang was honoured, whohas not only supported projects toadvance music education of childrenand young people, but has also playedthe music of Felix MendelssohnBartholdy all over the world andbrought it to a public of millions. Lastyear's Gewandhaus-Orchestra tourunder Riccardo Chailly, with Lang Langas soloist, had won especial notice andgreat enthusiasm, with interpretationsfrom the pianist that were sensitiveand original, and always true to thecompositions. Despite his relativeyouth, he has shown an extraordinarymusicality, that is particularly evidentin his interpretations of European clas-sical music.

His early shaping and continuousdevelopment has allowed him to growinto one of the most important ambas-sadors of Western music in his nativeChina. With his understanding of themusic and his ability to enthuse audi-ences, Lang Lang has made an impor-tant contribution to the disseminationof Mendelssohn's legacy.

The German actress Iris Berben washonoured for her especial “SocialEngagement”. Iris Berben has workedfor those ideals which bring culturesand people openly together, not only asan actress but also through her greatpersonal commitment. She has made aparticular contribution to communi-cation between Jewish and German cultures. She has worked decisivelyagainst political evils, racism, anti-Semitism and the extreme-right in theprojects and contributions which shehas initiated. The actress has alreadyreceived many international awards forher services to understanding andreconciliation between Germany andIsrael.

Iris Berben has demonstrated heropen-minded approach not only poli-tically, but also in humanitarian fields,for example on the Council of the German Aids Foundation, where shehas worked with all her strength tohelp people. Through her example and attitude the German artist hasbecome a model for all classes and age-groups in our society, always striving uncompromisingly to recog-nise and address their grievances.Thus the actress does justice in anextraordinary way to the ideals of thefamous composer Felix Mendels-sohn Bartholdy, who in his well-known works, brought religions toget-her.

Award of this year's Leipzig International Mendelssohn Prize

Mendelssohn Gala 2010p. 2

photo above: Gewandhaus Director Professor Andreas Schulz (left) and the Managing Director of thefoundation Jürgen Ernst with the German actress Iris Berben before the ceremony in the concert hall ofthe Leipzig Gewandhausphotos below: Leipzig Lord Mayor is handing out the Mendelssohn Prizes to Iris Berben and Lang Lang.Both thanked him and the Jury heartily for this great honour. Veronika Ferres who presided over the eve-ning congratulated the prize-winners.

The actress Veronika Ferres presi-ded over the evening, aptly presen-ting to the public not only the concertprogramme and the role of theFoundation in preserving and dis-seminating Felix Mendelssohn Bart-holdy's legacy, but also the occasionof the Mendelssohn Gala and its objec-tives.

The best chef in Germany is cur-rently Joachim Wissler, 3-star chef atthe Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg. Heand his team with the excellentLeipziger Fairgourmet conjured up a post-concert Gala Dinner, which wasa treat for eyes and palates. Like theother artists of the evening, he re-ceived lively applause.

In a festive address to the Galaguests, Leipzig Lord Mayor Burk-hard Jung, in his capacity as Chairmanof the Foundation, spoke about theobjectives of the evening. He againexplained the benefit purpose – thefinancing of the collection of first edi-tions which the Mendelssohn-Haushad acquired last year, and its digi-talisation. In addition he very heartilythanked the prize-winners, as well asall the guests and artists, for their com-mitment to the music city of Leipzigand to the recognition of the compo-ser Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. He then welcomed the guest who hadmade the longest journey, Mrs EmikoTsuji from Osaka (Japan), who at theage of 96 had travelled to Leipzig be-cause she had felt closely linked to theMendelssohn-Haus and its aims formany years.

The Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung was able to declare, with satisfactionand gratitude, that the evening hadgenerated a splendid 70,000 euros indonations to the Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Foundation to support theirwork in 2010. And he could tell all theguests: The next Gala event will takeplace during the Mendelssohn festivalin September 2011.

Veronika Ferres (left), the two prize-winners of 2010 Lang Lang and Iris Berben and Leipzig Lord MayorBurkhard Jung, who as the Chairman of the Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Foundation handed out thisyear's Leipzig International Mendelssohn Prize.

continuation of the titel report:

To close the Mendelssohn Year theJapan branch of the Felix-Mendels-sohn-Bartholdy-Foundation under theleadership of Mrs Tomoko Masur orga-nised a Mendelssohn Week in threeJapanese cities, with a varied program-me; exhibitions, concerts and scholar-ly symposia were presented to a largeand interested public.

On 8 December the Goethe-Institute of Tokyo opened its doors fora travelling exhibition Felix, which also opened the Mendelssohn Week.Some 20 panels of texts and picturesinformed the numerous visitors to theexhibition of the life and works of thecomposer Felix Mendelssohn Bart-holdy. Some episodes from the life ofthe artist were illustrated in moredetail, supplemented by original ma-terial, such as the composer's notes,letters, pictures and pens from thearchive of the Mendelssohn-HausLeipzig. Importantly, the Goethe-Institute also displayed in its foyer aninformation desk with much materialabout the Mendelssohn-Haus.

As part of the Mendelssohn WeekMaestro Kurt Masur gave several daysof conducting master-classes in Tokyo– the excellent results of the class par-ticipants could be seen in a final con-cert at the Tokyo Senzoku GakuenConcert Hall.

14 December also provided a spe-cial event in a sold-out Hall inKanazawa; a brilliant chamber music,with the celebrated Gewandhaus-Quartet among others, and a scholar-ly symposium chaired by ProfessorHiromi Hoshino. There were contri-butions from Professor Kurt Masur(Leipzig), Dr Peter Ward Jones (Ox-ford, ex-Bodleian Library), Dr RalfWehner (Leipzig, MendelssohnComplete Edition and the SaxonyAcademy of Research, ProfessorHiromi Hoshino (Tokyo, RikkyoUniversity), and the Music Director ofthe Kanazawa Ensemble OrchestraMichiyoshi Inoue. In the foyer of theHall, the concert guests could enjoy

Close of the Mendelssohn Year p. 3

the Felix exhibition, which was againsupplemented by exhibits from theMendelssohn-Haus. After the eventthere was a further meeting of scho-lars and symposium members withstudents from Kanazawa University,and discussions with representativesof the Kanazawa Ensemble Orchestra.

The next day this orchestra playedin the Great Hall of the Culture Centreunder the direction of Maestri Masurand Inoue – naturally including worksby Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, whose music dominated all the con-certs.

On 17 December there was also aconcert in Breezé (Osaka); the guestsenjoyed an evening introduced byTomoko Masur with the Osaka Orches-tra and once again the Gewandhaus-Quartet, who were in Japan not onlyfor concerts but also gave quartetmaster-classes – and were very plea-sed with the results.

Back in Tokyo, the Mendelssohnspecialists accompanying Tomoko andKurt Masur took part in a podium dis-cussion in the Tokyo Goethe-Instituteon 18 December. Professor HiromiHoshino, Dr Peter Ward Jones and Dr Ralf Wehner gave short presenta-tions about Mendelssohn's works andtheir reception, about the newly crea-ted Mendelssohn catalogue and aboutMendelssohn source material inJapan; this led to a discussion, chai-red by Dr Uwe Schmelter, Head of theGoethe-Institute, to which ProfessorKurt Masur and Christiane Schmidtcontributed.

On 19 December the arrival inTokyo of Leipzig Lord Mayor and Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-FoundationChairman Burkhard Jung, and theFelix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Foun-dation Director Jürgen Ernst coincidedwith the final concert of theMendelssohn Week in the New NikkeiHall. Beforehand they both called onthe German Embassy to brief HE DrStanzel on the successful conclusion

of the Mendelssohn Year 2009 inLeipzig and in Japan, and to discussfuture cooperation. At the concert thatevening the Gewandhaus-Quartet andthe Okayama-Quartet joined forces forFelix Mendelssohn's Octet. After theconcert Burkhard Jung, as Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-FoundationChairman, invited the members of theJapanese Felix-Mendelssohn-Barthol-dy-Foundation branch, members of theEmbassy and the Goethe-Institute, toa Reception at which he presented theLeipzig Golden Needle of Honour to Dr Kazoi Watanabe and Mrs EmikoTsuji for their many years of supportfor the Mendelssohn-Haus. The Chair-man formally thanked the two Japa-nese colleagues for their commitment,loyalty and continuous support, evenduring the difficult years, which theyhad given to the Mendelssohn-Haus.

This official ceremony in Tokyo closed the Japanese MendelssohnWeek, which had inspired many posi-tive comments and echoes, not only in Japan.

photo above: Lord Mayor Jung presents the LeipzigGolden Needle of Honour to Dr Kazoi Watanabeand Mrs Emiko Tsuji photo below: Maestro Kurt Masur and Lord MayorJung tell the guests of the evening more aboutMendelssohn and his last home in Leipzig

Illustrations; above left: Professor Masur with theclass participants of his conducting master-classesin the final concert at the Tokyo Senzoku GakuenConcert Hall.

below: The Gewandhaus Quartet in Kanazawa,who were in Japan not only for concerts but alsogave quartet master-classes in Kanazawa, Osakaand Tokyo.

above right and below: Concert guests are inter-ested in the travelling exhibition Felix with 20panels and original material from the Mendels-sohn-Haus archive

adjoining: Professor Hiromi Hoshino, Mrs TomokoMasur, Maestro Kurt Masur and the Music Directorof the Kanazawa Ensemble Orchestra Mr Michi-yoshi Inoue.

below, left: Dr Ralf Wehner, Saxony Academy ofResearch, Mendelssohn Complete Edition, whospoke about the newly created Mendelssohn cata-logue, which he published in 2009

right: Dr Peter Ward Jones from Oxford, where hesearched for many years with original Mendels-sohn manuscripts in the Bodleian Library. In thislibrary one can find one of the biggest Mendels-sohn collections, not only the music but also let-ters, paintings, drawings and other material.

Mendelssohn Week in Japanp. 4

Violin Concerto in E minor and China p. 5

Illustrations; above left: Two guitarists – GuitarGao and Leipzig Lord Mayor Jung speaking aboutMendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and the tricks howto play itabove right: Guitar Gao playing the guitar in theNew Town Hall in Leipzig, Jürgen Ernst is happybelow: The “golden roll” and it’s admirers – GuitarGao explaining his ideas to arrange the ViolinConcerto for E-Guitar, band and orchestraadjoining: 16 metres of silk and gold leafbelow: Burkhard Jung and Jürgen Ernst withGuitar Gao and his new formal certificate fromthe Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Foundation

The 200th anniversary of FelixMendelssohn's birthday providedmany opportunities around the worldto honour the great composer.

The Chinese musician Sheng-ChunGao, well-known in his mother coun-try under the artistic name Guitar Gao as a leading E-guitarist and rockmusician, has moved onto classicalpaths; since 1996 he has been workingon an arrangement of Mendelssohn'sfabulous Violin Concerto in E minor,opus 64, MWV O 14. In the anniver-sary year 2009 he printed his arrange-ment for E-Guitar, band and orchestraonto an artistically created 16-metre-long gold-plated silk roll.

At a press conference on 31 March2010, Gao presented this “golden roll”to the Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Foundation in Leipzig. The Chineseartist expressed his admiration for thecomposer Mendelssohn through thisgift, and stressed the interrelationshipsbetween the cultures – very much inthe spirit of Mendelssohn. Leipzig LordMayor Burkhard Jung accepted this gift in the name of the Foundation, ofwhich he is the Chairman.

In return for this valuable giftBurkhard Jung presented the Chineseguitarist with a formal certificate fromthe Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Foundation in Leipzig.

The presentation of the golden rollhad been announced at a press confe-rence in Beijing in January 2010, atwhich the Foundation had been repre-sented by its Director Jürgen Ernst. The announcement had generatedsignificant media interest in China. The news of Gao's visit and presenta-tion in Leipzig was also widely cover-ed in the Chinese media.

The first performance of Gao's guitar work is planned for October2010 in Beijing, when Mendelssohn'sViolin Concerto and Gao's arrange-ment will be performed one after theother.

Names and Factsp. 6

Donors since December 2009

UK Friends with a new project

titel: Iris Berben and Lang Lang are the happy prize-winners of this year's Mendelssohn Prize

The UK Friends of the Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Foundation supported a“Foyle Future Firsts” concert in the Royal Festival Hall in London on 12 February2010 with the theme “The Spirit of Mendelssohn”. The concert was part of a pro-gramme initiated by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which takes place eachyear. It is designed to facilitate the transition from conservatoire to the professionof young musicians. This year the musicians were Artem Kotov and Lisa Obert(violin), Jennifer Edwards (viola), Andrei Simion (cello), Laura Pou (flute), JoannaStark (bassoon), Tiffany Stirling and Sam Jacobs (horn), Carl Woodcroft (tuba),Stefanie Beck (harp) and Michele Gamba (piano) – see photo. As the title suggeststhe concert consisted not only of Mendelssohn's own works, but those of his fore-runners, as well as by his contemporaries and successors, in order to demonstra-te his influences as a composer. The excellent performances were warmly applau-ded by an enthusiastic audience, including the UK Friends with their ChairmanDesmond Cecil, who look forward to hearing the progress of the young artists.

MMeemmbbeerrss ooff tthhee KKuurraattoorriiuumm SSuuppppoorrtteerrss’’ CCiirrcclleeDr Wulff AengeveltTomoko Masur und Prof Kurt Masur Dr Jürgen FriedelHélène Mercier-Arnault Ulrike Krill de CapelloProf Hermann Rauhe Karin MartinWolfgang Tiefensee Dr Clauss RiedbergEmiko Tsuji Heide SchwarzwellerKurt Viermetz Dr Undine Nash

Imprint

» President: Prof. Kurt Masur

» Chairman Mayor

of the Board: Burkhard Jung

» Substitute: Michael Faber

» Board: Dr. Peter Krüger

Tomoko Masur

Prof. Andreas Schulz

» Member

of the Board: Dr. Werner Martin

» Director: Jürgen Ernst

» Representative UK: Desmond Cecil (London)

Address:

» Mendelssohn-Haus Leipzig

» Goldschmidtstraße 12, 04103 Leipzig

» Telephone: +49 (0) 341-1 27 02 94

» Faksimile: +49 (0) 341-2 11 52 88

» E-Mail: ims@mendelssohn-stiftung.de

» Internet: www.mendelssohn-stiftung.de

www.mendelssohn-2009.com

Account: Deutsche Bank Leipzig

banc code: 860 700 24

account: 455 56 78

More details

» Editor and Designer:

Christiane Schmidt (responsible)

» Texts: Christiane Schmidt

» English Translation: Desmond Cecil

» Pictures/illustrations: Gert Mothes, Christiane

Schmidt, Royal Philhamonic Society London,

Dr. Ralf Wehner, Westend PR

» Print: Fischer Druck, Großpösna

In the first half of this year the Foundation again received many valuable contri-butions, as well as much valuable help; all supporters are most warmly thankedfor their generous support of our work:

Aengevelt Immobilien GmbH & Co. KGFrau Ann-Katrin Bauknechtbeton & rohrbau C.-F. Thymian GmbH LeipzigBilfinger Berger AG Frau Manuela Carpi-GrothHerrn Desmond CecilDeutsche BundesbankDIMEG GmbH & Co. KGDom PérignonEnBW Energie Baden Württemberg AG FairgourmetFischer-Art Atelier DeutschlandHotel Fürstenhof LeipzigGewandhausorchesterGewandhaus zu LeipzigGRK-Holding AGHildebrand & Jürgens GmbHHuber Difraktionstechnik GmbH & Co. KG Frau Angela IchikawaHerrn Fumitake IchikawaHerrn Peter Krakow

Leipziger MesseLeipziger Verlags- und Druckereiges mbHMedica-Klinik Gesellschaft für ambulante

Rehabilitation und Sportmedizin mbHMercedes-Benz Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH Moët Hennessy Deutschland GmbH Frau Rosemarie Molnar Herrn Ernst-Otto NedelmannHerrn Matthias NixdorfFrau Ingrid PetersRestaurant VendômeHerrn Harald SalomonFrau Dr. Ingeborg SchmidtHerrn Prof. Dr. Siegfried SchmidtGrandhotel Schloß BensbergHerrn Dr. Manfred SpindlerHerrn Wolf-Dietrich Speck von SternburgStroer Deutsche Städte Medien GmbHFrau Emiko Tsuji Verbundnetz Gas AGHerrn Gregorij H. von Lejtis