Jochen Schäfsmeier

For decades, the early music movement has been a vital force within the music scene. When it comes to baroque and classical composers, it has successfully called acoustic normality into question and brought attention to the sounds of centuries past. Last year, Concerto Köln hosted a talk series concerning the future of the movement in which experts in musical practice, the music industry and musicology underlined three points that are of increasing importance for the further development of the movement:

• Expansion of the repertoire towards the 19th century and opera
• Expansion of focus e.g. on stage action or language in the reconstruction of operatic works
• New impulses through questioning also of established historicized interpretations

The project, WAGNER-READINGS, fulfills these points in a sophisticated way. Concerto Köln is equally honored and inspirited to approach Wagner’s »Ring« together with Kent Nagano and to be able to make an important contribution to the historical performance practice of 19th century music.

Jochen Schäfsmeier, Managing Director Concerto Köln