Kuopio Symphony Orchestra

Zuzana Rzounková, Horn

Kurt Schwertsik - Schumpf Symphonie, op.80

Richard Strauss - 1.Konzert for Horn and Orchestra in Eb Major, op.11

Franz Schubert - 8(9).Symphonie in C Dur, D.944 „Große“

How does one experience time? Sometimes, it flows quickly and we are left surprised and often saddened as it was a beautiful time. At other times, it seems to flow backwards, often feeling difficult or monotonous. But when Robert Schumann wrote about Schubert and his “Heavenly length”, surely he intended something else. For it must have felt long but sublime. How does one arrive at such a counterintuitive experience? The answer lies in the phrase, “The end is in the beginning”.

This famous phrase coined by the great Romanian conductor, Sergiu Celibidache, is only enigmatic on its’ surface. If one delves deep beyond its simple façade and into the nature of music itself, the path will reveal itself. As with all profound art, the answer lies within ourselves and the resonance we experience with each individual sound. The first tone is the embryo of the whole. The contour of that note builds and grows, revealing a phrase. The phrases speak themselves into paragraphs, and eventually these constitute the whole of a movement. Like an acorn that grows into a mighty oak, the first tone grows into a symphony.

One must listen carefully, with an open heart and wakeful mind. We have to go within to hear the quiet voice telling us when the note is fulfilled and ready to move on. In this way, each note sings its’ story to its conclusion. We simply follow, allowing them in turn to reveal themselves in turn. When seeking an organic performance, this profound inner logic must be adhered to. Then the “Heavenly Length” will have a natural unity and the flow of time will not be a burdened, but rather a joy.