February 24, 2022, marks the fall from grace. Russia attacks Ukraine with the aim of destroying it. No major power has dared to do this since 1939. The world order, peace, security, democracy, and justice are being challenged and called into question. Since then, everything has been at stake. Two further events have occurred. On September 16, 2022, Zhina Masha Amini is killed by police in Tehran; the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom) movement breaks out to liberate Iran. On October 7, 2023, the Jewish state of Israel is attacked in the largest pogrom against Jews since the Holocaust; since then, an unprecedented wave of anti-Semitism has shaken the Western world.
In this situation, as a composer, I cannot remain silent and begin to compose “political works.” Two of them appear on this CD (Ukraine Triptych, Iran Lamento); the other two belong to the void cycle, which deals with the rupture in civilization caused by the Shoah.
February 24, 2022, is also a turning point in my life. I recognize the fundamental rift in history and the geopolitical dimension. It is not just about this war, but also about defending the West, democracy, and all the values that are sacred to us. We artists, we musicians, indeed we Germans have a special responsibility; we must declare our solidarity and use our means of expression to “say” something. As a composer, I can only respond with my music. It was therefore a great honor, but also a duty, for me to write a work dedicated to the free people of Ukraine.
Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf
Programme
Ukraine-Triptychon for 3 soloists and orchestra (2022) · Live recording
[01] Holodomor
[02] Der Jüdische Friedhof von Warschau
[03] Kubricks Bombe
Frauke Aulbert, soprano
Enikö Ginzery, cimbalom
Jürgen Ruck, electric bass guitar
Kyiv Symphony Orchestra
Vitalii Protasov, conductor
[04] metalized void for percussion and fixed Media (2015/16) · Live
Håkon Stene, percussion
[05] void – Aus der Folterkammer for 8 loudspeakers (2020)
[06] Iran-Lamento for 8 loudspeakers (2023/24)
Fojan Gharibnejad, daf
Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, instruments
World premiere recordings
Biographies
Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, born in Mannheim (Germany) in 1962, studied composition, music theory, piano, musicology, philosophy, and sociology with Brian Ferneyhough, Klaus Huber, and Jürgen Habermas, among others. University degree and doctorate in philosophy. Since 1984, he has received international prizes and awards, including the Gaudeamus Prize, the Stuttgart Composition Prize, the Ernst von Siemens Prize, and Villa Massimo. Since 2005, he has been professor of composition at the University of Music and Theater Leipzig.
Editor of the journal Musik & Ästhetik and the book series New Music and Aesthetics in the 21st Century, author of over 150 essays and numerous books (e.g., Kritische Theorie der Musik, Von der messianischen Freiheit, , Philosophie des Orgasmus).
Extensive work in all genres, performed by renowned ensembles (e.g., Ensemble Modern), important commissions (e.g., Salzburg Festival), numerous portrait concerts worldwide.
Major works: Rhizom, Medusa, Kammerzyklus, Angelus Novus, Hommage à György Kurtág, Hommage à Thomas Pynchon, Prospero’s Epilogue, humanized void, voiced void, Hommage à Daniel Libeskind, Kammersymphonie I-IV, void – kol ischa asirit.
www.claussteffenmahnkopf.de
More information
Catalogue number: NEOS 12517
EAN: 4260063125171
