By Martina Hafner
Joana Mallwitz literally blew the audience’s socks off! In the Konzerthaus, Berlin’s first female chief conductor celebrated a triumphant success at her debut on Thursday with works by Prokofiev, Weill and Mahler.
Even her personal introduction to the concert with sound samples on the grand piano turned into an event. In 25 minutes she explained how Kurt Weill breaks up the chords in his first Berlin Symphony, how his score was smuggled into an Italian monastery when the Jewish composer had to flee Nazi Germany. Or why Sergei Prokofiev leads the listener onto the slippery slope in his first symphony. Or how Gustav Mahler makes nature resonate.
Then she completely captivated the sold-out hall, conducting as if under high voltage. Artfully worked out the irony of Prokofiev, lets the violins sparkle, already intoxicatingly powerful tutti, transparency always included, but the reserved noblesse of her predecessor Christoph Eschenbach is history. With her, the orchestra sounds refreshingly rough and willing to take risks.
And the classic fans loved it! In Kurt Weill’s Berlin Symphony, which he wrote when he was 21 as a student, she lets his youthful fury gallop through the hall, sometimes almost breaking through the volume limit. It’s hard to believe, but with Mahler’s first it gets even more energetic, the finale makes the audience’s seats tremble. The audience can only respond with frenetic applause, Mallwitz presents the music so directly and physically. Consistently high tension!
By the way, it is worth buying a seat on the choir balcony or near the stage on the side tiers and seeing the conductor from the front. Joana Mallwitz’ expression is a picture for the gods. Clownesque rolling of the eyes in Prokofiev, strong hands wringing like claws in Weill or soulful ecstasy in Mahler. Splendid!
Next chance to experience Ms. Mallwitz: Sunday, September 3, 2023 from 11 a.m. at the open day in the Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt. Admission is free.