of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra
New Year’s Concert of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra
How could a new year begin more beautifully than with a concert visit to the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra?
Behind the scenes, the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra is a fantastic and truly extraordinary unit.
What could be more delightful than being carried away by these wonderful sounds, so delicate that they defy description?
The chief conductor of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra begins the new year with Shostakovich’s
Festive Overture, Op. 96—a beautiful and lively start to the new year.
The orchestra performs magnificently, transitioning effortlessly from gentle to powerful, impulsive, and so
captivating that the music carries the audience away.
Jonathan Darlington has a great sense of humor, and the joy and passion he brings to working with his orchestra
is truly remarkable.
He composed 27 piano pieces, and at the New Year’s Concert, Jonathan Darlington performs No. 21 in C Major, K. 467.
It feels somewhat like a twin piece to what Mozart wrote just four weeks earlier. That earlier piece, written in D minor,
is sharp, dramatic, and filled with anguish.
In contrast, No. 21 in C Major is open, full of light and humor—much more akin to The Marriage of Figaro.
To perform this piece, Jonathan Darlington introduces a world-class pianist. A pianist he met when the artist
was very young, and Darlington himself was just a little older. Darlington remarks, “He is a prodigy.”
This pianist has won numerous awards, recorded many CDs, and mastered a repertoire spanning Bach, Schubert,
and Mozart. His playing is refined and elegant, a true delight to witness.
After the intermission, the concert continues with a piece by Eric Coates.
Jonathan Darlington has a particular fondness for Eric Coates, who happens to be a fellow countryman.
As a child, Darlington listened to “Friday Night is Music Night” every Friday with his entire family. Remarkably,
this program still airs to this day.
Eric Coates was frequently featured and was something of the uncrowned king of light music in England.
He was an exceptional violist and a student of Frederick Corder at the Royal Academy of Music.
At the Royal Academy of Music, where Eric Coates and himself studied, the director once prophesied to him,
“You play the viola very well, but you will become a composer.”
A short waltz from Disney’s “Fantasia”—this piece was written by him in 1870, when he was the conductor
of the Parisian choir. He had a passion for dance and was deeply immersed in Parisian culture at the time.
“Dance of the Hours” from La Gioconda—a piece full of energy and flair that literally sweeps you away.
First, the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra performs this with the influence of both Léo Délibes and
Amilcare Ponchielli.
Ponchielli, based in Milan, and Délibes in Paris, were contemporaneous composers, and their work shows
a clear connection. However, you can also hear the distinct differences in their styles.
“The first opera that Jonathan Darlington ever heard was “La Traviata”
Jonathan Darlington has such a beautiful memory of it—he has conducted the piece many times as an adult,
but it always holds a special place for him.
He treasures…
“He is greatly appreciated for both his music and his personality. He shares a certain similarity to Coates—
possessing a gentleness and humility, often overshadowed by Liszt, Strauss, Mahler, and others. However,
he is a remarkable composer, having written many works that, to this day, have never been performed.”
There is still the opportunity to discover…
“It’s difficult to find, as he was the first globally recognized musical superstar. There’s a film by Ken Russell
titled: “The Great Lover”.
When Jonathan Darlington was young, there was “Beatlemania.”
“Lisztomania is something truly unique, and we will perform his second Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5 in its orchestral
version, which truly embodies “Lisztomania.”
Jonathan Darlington would have loved to meet him, Eric Coates, once over dinner.
“I am very proud to be the chief conductor of this orchestra because you are all outstanding musicians—
flexible, open, and with hearts that beat together. That truly brings us all together!”
“But it’s not just that—perhaps you don’t know this, but there are around 25 different nationalities on this stage.
Starting with me—I’m half French and half English, thanks to Brexit! There are about 25 nationalities here,
and our message is that we make world-class music together.”
“We can talk to each other, we can laugh and cry together. Sometimes there’s disagreement, because not everything
flows smoothly all the time—no, there are moments when we don’t all see eye to eye. But we can work together,
laugh, cry, and create beautiful music.”
“We live in a time where there is so much conflict and injustice everywhere. But we have the power to avoid that.”
To all of you here:
“Our message is one of unity and connection. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we come together to create
beautiful music as one.
Together, we can share this message—spreading it far and wide with your support. Bring your friends,
your neighbors, your loved ones to experience the power of music that unites us all.
In a world where there is so much division, let’s be a shining example of what it means to come together—
through music, through shared experiences, and through understanding.”
“I am half English and half French, so first a little from England, a bit of meditation, and then a touch of French—
Saint-Saëns.”
The audience erupts in excitement, applause lasting for many minutes, and Jonathan Darlington keeps returning
to the stage, offering encores.
Every viewer is captivated, their eyes shining with joy, filled with good spirits and warmth.
The audience leaves the Nuremberg Meistersinger Hall, filled with joy and excitement after such an unforgettable
start to the new year.verlässt das Publikum die Nürnberger Meistersingerhalle.
An older couple shared with me that they have been regularly attending concerts by the Nuremberg Symphony
Orchestra since 1984 and always sit in the same seats in Row 10. Their eyes sparkled with excitement,
and we exchanged thoughts about the beautiful New Year’s concert.
Best regards,
Susanne Panhans
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All images, texts, videos, and interviews are copyrighted by Susanne Panhans.
