Pastoralis

Pastoralis—a word that immediately evokes images of the countryside: vast plains, soft light sweeping across meadows, the breath of nature still untouched by human hands. In our Kammer_Spiel, this term serves as a conceptual thread linking three works, each of which, in its own way, unfolds rural tranquility, human closeness, and the warm sound of chamber music. We understand the concept of the “pastoral” not merely as a natural idyll, but as an attitude toward listening—an openness to sonic spaces that radiate tranquility, moderation, and humanity. Through their distinct musical languages, Beethoven, Martinů, and Farrenc lead us to a common point: the idea of music that makes the world feel larger by making us receptive to what truly matters.

While our chamber music projects are usually performed solely by members of the orchestra, this time our new Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, John Storgårds, will accompany us not only as a coach during rehearsals but also as concertmaster on first violin. And as with all of our Kammer_Spiele, the musicians themselves will host this concert, sharing musical insights and their personal perspectives on the works.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Septet, Op. 20, stands at both ends of this thread. It is not a pastoral work in the strict sense, yet its carefree cheerfulness, the free flow of its melodies, and its folk-like echoes reveal a world that is very close to nature. Beethoven sketches a musical landscape where elegance and down-to-earth simplicity meet—an idealized, almost Arcadian soundscape.

Bohuslav Martinů opens a different form of pastoral with his Second Nonet. Here, folk motifs blend with modern clarity and rhythmic agility. The music has a wandering quality, as if it were following a path through a landscape that seems familiar yet constantly reveals new hues.

Finally, Louise Farrenc presents a kind of urban pastoral with her Nonet, Op. 38: not a rural setting, but an inner landscape. Her music embodies warmth, clarity, and a free, breathing structure: a pastoral harmony of balance.

Lena Uebelhör, Program Committee