1. The Internationale
Hans Rott Gesellschaft (International Hans Rott Society)
had been founded
The Internationale
Hans Rott Gesellschaft (IHRG) had been founded on
the occasion of the Bruckner Festival 2002 in Würzburg.
The IHRG's seat is Vienna, of course.
Dr Uwe
Harten (Vienna/Austria), the author of the book on
Hans Rott, had been elected President, Erwin Horn
(Würzburg/Germany) and Martin Brilla (Aachen/Germany)
act as Vice Presidents, the latter also as Secretary.
For more information about the IHRG please see the
Society's website.
As the
IHRG's success not least depends on the financial
resources at its disposal, everyone interested is
warmly invited to become a member; for the necessary
information please see the above-mentioned website.
Also (and especially) German members are welcome;
there will be an English edition of all publications
and newsletters.
The IHRG
will furnish its members with (in part exclusive)
information by regular newsletters. Besides members
will have an opportunity to attend IHRG events at
reduced rates. Finally we plan to offer further special
rates to our members (as for instance for CDs).
The Society
will automatically grant every member who joins the
IHRG before December 31, 2002 a founder membership.
The membership cards will be dispatched at the beginning
of next year.
We continue to distribute
our newsletter free in order to furnish also non-members
with the most important news on a regular basis. The
newsletter for our members, however, will be issued
more frequently and be considerably more detailed.
We ask you to kindly understand this procedure.
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2. Bruckner-Fest 2002
(Part II)
The second
weekend of the Bruckner Festival 2002 had been a huge
success, too.
For Hans
Rott friends it began with a very interesting and detailed
lecture by Dr Uwe Harten. He gave an account of Rott's
life and work illustrated by sound samples, pictures
and documents.
The Pastoral
Prelude performed by the Bruckner Orchestra Linz with
Dennis Russell Davies conducting received some positive
reviews in the papers. It has to be mentioned, however,
that this performance was even more doubtful than that
of the cpo recording. Davies not only ignored almost
all of Rott's directions but also added tempo changes
which were pure invention. For instance, Rott's tempo
indication at the beginning of the second part of the
double fugue says: "as before". Here, compared to the
first part, Davies increased the tempo considerably,
although he had played the work and especially the fugue
far too fast anyway (immediately before the fugue the
tempo indication says "very slow" and then "faster and
determined"). All this despite the acoustics in the
cathedral which would have called for a slower performance.
All the more
pleasing was the Munich Radio Orchestra's performance
of the Symphony in E major with Sebastian Weigle conducting.
It proved that the conductor had thoroughly studied
the work which lead to sometimes surprising but very
impressive results. It is to be assumed that it had
been the best interpretation so far. Fortunately, the
Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation had recorded the concert.
As soon as the date of the broadcast is known (probably
next spring) we will immediately inform the subscribers
of our newsletter. Besides Weigle is negotiating about
a CD recording of the symphony which, no doubt, would
be a great enrichment.
In summing
up it can be said that, besides the very first performance
of the symphony, the Bruckner Festival 2002 had been
the most important event for the reception of Rott's
music far and away. Thus our thanks and appreciation
are due to the organizers and their many indefatigable
helpers. We want to mention Erwin Horn in place of all
those: "Thank you, Erwin!"
3. News from
the music publishers - "Julius Caesar" is finished
In the meantime
the new version of the Symphony in E major (publishing
house of Ries & Erler) has been performed several
times. After the incorporation of the still necessary
corrections, there will be an acceptable and easily
available edition at last.
Doblinger
will publish the String Quartet in c minor as well as
the songs which have been performed in Würzburg. There
are, however, still copyright problems to be solved.
The greatest surprise may
be the fact that Doblinger decided on short notice accept
for publication the "Prelude to Julius Caesar" which
Frank Litterscheid has just finished editing. "Julius
Caesar" is Rott's only really complete orchestral work
that has not yet been performed. There is great hope
now that this will no longer be the case soon.
4. The
cpo CD continues to be a success
Cpo
have been very content with the sales figures of their
Rott CD. In the annual rating ("The 12 Top Sellers of
the Year", see jpc Courier, December 2002) it is number
10 - an impressive result! Presently the CD is ranging
among the first 25.
As a consequence
cpo are very interested in recording more works by Rott.
We will try to further these plans.
5. More than
15,000 visitors of the Website
The interest
in the Hans Rott Website is constantly increasing. Whereas
in the previous newsletter we were delighted to report
10,000 visitors there have been now - just two months
later - already more than 15,000!
But also
the newsletter had widened its range of distribution:
It is not only sent off to Germany and Austria but also
to China, France, Great Britain, Italy, Canada, Sweden,
Spain and the USA etc.
Many thanks
for your interest!
Wishing all of you a Merry
Christmas and a happy New Year!
Martin Brilla
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