1. New CDs

Hans Rott's String Quartet in c minor is available for some time now in an interpretation by the Mandelring Quartett recorded at the Gustav Mahler Music Weeks Toblach 2003. It's worthwhile buying it alone for the unique performance although it comes only in a CD Box of three CDs (along with works by Mahler, Wagner, Shostakovich and others).

For details and purchase information see http://www.hans-rott.de/cdegmm03.htm. IHRG members can buy this CD box at a very favourable price; for details see the current issue of DIE QUARTE (see below).

In October 2004, another recording of the Symphony No. 1 in E major came out. It's a very interesting interpretation by the Philharmonisches Orchester des Staatstheaters Mainz with Catherine Rückwardt conducting (Acousence records ACO-CD 20104). For further details and purchase information see http://www.hans-rott.de/cderueck.htm

Presumably by the end of January 2005, Acousence will publish a CD with chamber music by Hans Rott, i. e. the Symphony for String Orchestra in A-flat major (Streicher des Philharmonischen Orchesters des Staatstheaters Mainz with Enrico Delamboye conducting) and the String Quartet in c minor (Mainzer Streichquartett). For more details, as soon as available, see http://www.hans-rott.de/cde.htm

IHRG members can buy this CD, too, at a very favourable price; for details see the current issue of DIE QUARTE (see below).

2. DIE QUARTE

Just out: the first issue (in colour) of our new magazine DIE QUARTE (The Fourth) published in a German as well as an English version which will replace our circular letter to our members. Most members of the International Hans Rott Society will have received their copies by now. From the contents of issue I/2004:

" This Dig has been Worthwhile"
An interview with GMD Catherine Rückwardt

The Bells of Kiruna
Hans Rott going north

Hans Rott in Tokyo

How Hans Rott came to the Aargau

3 . More news from the International Hans Rott Society (IHRG)

Besides DIE QUARTE there are three other very good reasons for joining the International Hans Rott Society now:

a) The membership fees have been reduced: As of now, full members pay an annual fee of just 30.00 Euro.

b) The Annual Gift 2004

Those who become a member still in this year will receive the annual gift 2004 with - among others - the Symphony for String Orchestra in A-flat major and the Prelude to "Julius Caesar". Both works have been recorded on the occasion of this year's world premieres of both works and will not be available anywhere else. Despite some technical shortcomings they are a very interesting alternative to those published or being published soon on commercial CDs.

c) CDs at a special price

Members of the International Hans Rott Society will get the three recently published commercial Rott CDs at a considerably (20 % and more) reduced price. For details see DIE QUARTE.

In the IHRG General Assembly on October 16, 2004 in Cologne, the Board had been re-elected for a second period: Dr Uwe Harten (Vienna), Erwin Horn (Würzburg), and Martin Brilla (Aachen).

4 . Review

The Asian first performance of the Symphony No. 1 in E major in Tokyo in November 2004 by the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra with Ryusuke Numajiri conducting had been a surprisingly great success. A detailed report on the rehearsals and the performances you will read in the current issue and the next of DIE QUARTE.

Also the five performances of the Symphony at the Philharmonie in Cologne/Germany (WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln with Neeme Järvi and the Gürzenich-Orchester with Sebastian Weigle conducting) had been a great success.

5 . Outlook

Next year we may look forward to the following performances of the Symphony No. 1 in E major:

March 2005: Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Johannes Wildner

April 2005: Orchester des Staatstheaters Kassel, Rasmus Baumann

NDR Sinfonieorchester, Alan Gilbert

Also in April 2005 the Swedish first performance of the Symphony for String Orchestra in A-flat major will take place.

The same month will see another highlight: On April 12, 2005 the world premiere of the Suite in E major will take place in Hagen/Germany. The Philharmonisches Orchester Hagen with Antony Hermus conducting will perform it along with Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1 - an interesting combination, no doubt.

More details and events you will find, as always, at www.hans-rott.de/whatson.htm.

We wish all the subscribers of our newsletter a Happy New Year with many exciting musical events.

Martin Brilla
martin.brilla@hans-rott.de
www.hans-rott.de