To celebrate his 80th birthday, Kurt Masur led "his" Gewandhaus Orchestra in a special gala concert in June 2007. For his birthday concert, Masur, currently principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestre National de France, chose a varied, celebratory programme with works by composers highlighting his conducting career in the United States, France and Germany. The night progressed with works by Bernstein, Bizet and Brahms and -- as a special present - a song from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, sung by entertainer Harald Schmidt. At Kurt Masur's wish, the popular German TV entertainer, a former church musician, hosted the show, demonstrating his quick-witted humour and general knowledge of all aspects of music. Abounding in energy, alert as ever, Masur has been untiringly lending new impulses to the entire orchestral repertoire. From 1970 until 1996 he did so as Gewandhaus Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, a position that has almost come to be identified with his name. He is still Conductor Laureate of the ensemble; the fact that he chose the orchestra for his birthday celebration expresses his gratitude and respect for the orchestra that accompanied him during momentous and troubled times. Kurt Masur had an eventful life - he was famously swept into politics as a peacemaker when the Berlin Wall was about to fall. He was recently awarded Germany's Great Cross of the Legion of Honour with Star and Ribbon -- the highest state honour given by the Federal Republic. EuroArts joins the round of congratulations with this DVD -- an homage to a great artist and credible humanist.

Be the first to comment