Hans Zender’s 80th Birthday

Fundação Casa da Música, Porto, Portugal

Hans Zender is an outstanding conductor and one of the most important composers of our times. Despite this he is still relatively unknown in Portugal. His approach to the classical repertoire and composers like Schubert, Schumann, Beethoven and Debussy, which he dubs “self-composed interpretations”, is unique. These works make him a composer who builds bridges between the lovers of classical and New Music and one who appeals to a wide contemporary music audience.

One of his most effective works is Schubert’s “Winterreise”. As yet this Lied cycle has still not been presented in its stage version despite its dramaturgical potential. To stage the work at the highest possible level Casa da Música has invited some of the most important connoisseurs of Hans Zender’s music like conductor Peter Rundel, tenor Christoph Prégardien and the Remix Ensemble Casa da Música. For this new production Casa da Música has also brought together a team that already proved itself in previous cooperations, including director Nuno Carinhas and lighting designer Nuno Meira.

The performance of Schubert’s “Winterreise” that is supported by the EvS Music Foundation is aimed at an audience new to contemporary music. As part of the project Casa da Música is shooting a film about the rehearsal stages. This video material will later be made available internationally and used for the training of music students, directors and actors.

September 13, 2016
Casa da Música, Porto
 

Further Information
www.casadamusica.com