Bewegender Abschied: Currentzis dirigiert Brittens „War Requiem“
The renowned conductor Teodor Currentzis bid a poignant farewell after six years as the head of the SWR Symphony Orchestra with a performance of Benjamin Britten’s „War Requiem“ in Stuttgart and Freiburg. Following the Freiburg performance, music editor Alexander Dick from the „Badische Zeitung“ expressed his deep admiration.
Dick reported a „deeply moving musical interpretation“ of the „War Requiem“ and praised the orchestra, choir, and soloists for their „excellent performance.“ He described the experience as „absolutely magnificent. It was the expected or hoped-for farewell, during which it was evident that Currentzis deeply touched the audience.“
While Currentzis‘ artistic merits are undisputed by many, controversies arose due to his ties to Russia and his failure to clearly denounce the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Despite criticisms, Dick emphasized Currentzis‘ integrative impact as the chief conductor, particularly in unifying two distinct orchestral identities after the orchestra merger six years ago. He praised Currentzis for creating something new out of the diverse orchestral cultures and acknowledged his unique ability to achieve such cohesion.
In his own words, Currentzis expressed his desire to ignite the artistic passion within his musicians, creating a sound that embodies their dedication to music and makes them feel like true artists. He shared his personal connection to Britten’s „War Requiem“ and how it resonates with him after the final notes, as well as his role in bringing the SWR Symphony Orchestra together following the merger.
