Post by David on Jul 27, 2008 17:31:53 GMT 1
Here we see Manfred Preis, complete with mobile phone and bass clarinet, following the emergency evacuation of the Philharmonie on 20th May. It is a compelling image which seems to capture the drama of the moment. Smoke can be seen rising from the Philharmonie in the background.
Manfred Preis studied at the Music Academy, Munich and received a scholarship from the Herbert von Karajan Academy of the BPO and has won several awards at international competitions, for example the "Prager Frühling". After playing with the RSO Berlin for two years, he became a member of the BPO in 1981 as a clarinettist, bass clarinettist and saxophonist. He is also active as a national and international soloist, chamber musician and teacher.
In his entry on the BPO’s web site Manfred Preis states that - “The bass clarinet lives from its dark timbre. Whenever there’s something lyrical, mystical or spiritual to say in the orchestra, that’s when the bass clarinet begins to buzz. I love that about my instrument”.
At heart, the members of the BPO are chamber musicians who really know how to listen. One of Karajan’s very many special qualities was that he worked with the musicians to encourage them to listen to each other by playing as chamber musicians, but in the manner of a large orchestra. I think it’s rather like acting where although you memorise your lines, you must also play off the other actors.
Manfred Preis’s chamber activities are really very interesting and wide-ranging.
Firstly though there is another opportunity to see again the truly magnificent Egmont Overture from 1985, already described on the Forum by darkehmen as "Powerful, brooding, thrilling -- whenever I hear Karajan conduct Beethoven, I verily believe that I am hearing Beethoven himself, simply using Karajan as a "host body" to bring his works to life".
Manfred Preis can be seen at 1 minute 20 seconds into the video on the far left, playing second clarinet alongside Karl Leister -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1yxWXHLWcY
Manfred Preis is a member of three small ensembles -
1) Berliner Philharmonisches Bläserensemble (he is fifth from the left in the rather pleasant Salzburg roof top photograph)
2) Bolero Berlin - an ensemble in which four BPO members and others indulge their love of South American music. Follow the audio link on the site for some interesting MP3 clips.
www.bolero-berlin.de
3) Cantango Berlin - an ensemble specialising in the music of the Argentinian Tango.
www.cantango-berlin.de
If you have another five minutes to spare then there follows a clip of Cantango Berlin and Manfred Preis in action. I think it must be exhilarating after an important concert at the Philharmonie to be able to move onto a club for a few hours and participate in music of a completely different style.
The bassist in the clip is Ofelia Stoll, wife of Klaus Stoll, a bassist in the BPO since 1965, although I have the impression that he may be about to retire from the Orchestra during the next few months after 44 years - simply awesome.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6ja31bELZw
Finally, there is a most interesting short video clip, of unfortunately only 41 seconds, where Manfred Preis can be seen teaching. Notice the emphasis given to legato playing. The session occurred very recently on 5th August 2008 at Instrumenta Oaxaca which is an academic project / festival / summer school in Oaxaca City, Mexico.
www.instrumenta.org/wtAlbumFrontend/video/album/58/media/692
Manfred Preis studied at the Music Academy, Munich and received a scholarship from the Herbert von Karajan Academy of the BPO and has won several awards at international competitions, for example the "Prager Frühling". After playing with the RSO Berlin for two years, he became a member of the BPO in 1981 as a clarinettist, bass clarinettist and saxophonist. He is also active as a national and international soloist, chamber musician and teacher.
In his entry on the BPO’s web site Manfred Preis states that - “The bass clarinet lives from its dark timbre. Whenever there’s something lyrical, mystical or spiritual to say in the orchestra, that’s when the bass clarinet begins to buzz. I love that about my instrument”.
At heart, the members of the BPO are chamber musicians who really know how to listen. One of Karajan’s very many special qualities was that he worked with the musicians to encourage them to listen to each other by playing as chamber musicians, but in the manner of a large orchestra. I think it’s rather like acting where although you memorise your lines, you must also play off the other actors.
Manfred Preis’s chamber activities are really very interesting and wide-ranging.
Firstly though there is another opportunity to see again the truly magnificent Egmont Overture from 1985, already described on the Forum by darkehmen as "Powerful, brooding, thrilling -- whenever I hear Karajan conduct Beethoven, I verily believe that I am hearing Beethoven himself, simply using Karajan as a "host body" to bring his works to life".
Manfred Preis can be seen at 1 minute 20 seconds into the video on the far left, playing second clarinet alongside Karl Leister -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1yxWXHLWcY
Manfred Preis is a member of three small ensembles -
1) Berliner Philharmonisches Bläserensemble (he is fifth from the left in the rather pleasant Salzburg roof top photograph)
2) Bolero Berlin - an ensemble in which four BPO members and others indulge their love of South American music. Follow the audio link on the site for some interesting MP3 clips.
www.bolero-berlin.de
3) Cantango Berlin - an ensemble specialising in the music of the Argentinian Tango.
www.cantango-berlin.de
If you have another five minutes to spare then there follows a clip of Cantango Berlin and Manfred Preis in action. I think it must be exhilarating after an important concert at the Philharmonie to be able to move onto a club for a few hours and participate in music of a completely different style.
The bassist in the clip is Ofelia Stoll, wife of Klaus Stoll, a bassist in the BPO since 1965, although I have the impression that he may be about to retire from the Orchestra during the next few months after 44 years - simply awesome.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6ja31bELZw
Finally, there is a most interesting short video clip, of unfortunately only 41 seconds, where Manfred Preis can be seen teaching. Notice the emphasis given to legato playing. The session occurred very recently on 5th August 2008 at Instrumenta Oaxaca which is an academic project / festival / summer school in Oaxaca City, Mexico.
www.instrumenta.org/wtAlbumFrontend/video/album/58/media/692
