Deutsche Welle Festival Concerts

DW Radio and PRX are thrilled to announce the season of 26 episodes of Deutsche Welle Festival Concerts beginning in the fall quarter 2020 and continuing into the winter quarter 2021.

Host Rick Fulker brings it all to you in 26 programs, each one hour, 58 minutes long.

The shows reflect the best on the music scene, and along with Rick, the musicians themselves are on hand to give their insights into the events and the music.

In the year of the coronavirus pandemic, concert life in Germany shut down completely at first. Soon, however, special projects emerged, such as a one-of-a-kind performance of Bach's "St. John Passion" from the Bach city, Leipzig, or a unique adaptation of Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony" to be performed, musicians socially distanced, in the composer's home town, Bonn.

On May 1, the Berlin Philharmonic celebrated its birthday with its traditional "Europe Concert," performing a version of Mahler's Symphony No. 4 for chamber ensemble.

We also take you to the medieval basilica of Knechtsteden near Cologne for a mix of wild and crazy folia pieces and otherworldly Gregorian chant.

Three of Berlin's major orchestras performed intensely at that city's music festival for music-hungry audiences.

In short, although concert organizers, navigating the unsteady waters of the pandemic, were making short-term plans that required many changes, we've been able to fill just about the whole season with fresh performances that demonstrate the essential role that music plays in people's lives.

There are two exceptions, however: A glance back at the fabled Borodin Quartet's two-year project at the Beethovenfest in Bonn several seasons ago, and a "Best of Beethovenfest" to wrap up the series with performances supercharged by maestros Harnoncourt, Norrington, Masur, Rattle and Dudamel. And a sterling rendition of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 by Alfred Brendel. Just a couple of moments worth repeating from DW's twenty-year media partnership with the Beethovenfest in Bonn.

It all goes to show that one thing is immune to the virus: music.

Meanwhile, many programs from the past season are still available. With 364 days from release to expiration, the rights window is generous.

Carry the entire series or use the programs as needed.

Stations may subscribe to the full 26-part series via PRX SubAuto, or may download individual episodes, including those from the past season where the rights window is still open.

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DW Radio and PRX are thrilled to announce the season of 26 episodes of Deutsche Welle Festival Concerts beginning in the fall quarter 2020 and continuing into the winter quarter 2021. Host Rick Fulker brings it all to you in 26 programs, each one hour, 58 minutes long.The shows reflect the best on the music scene, and along with Rick, the musicians themselves are on hand to give their insights into the events and the music.In the year of the coronavirus pandemic, concert life in Germany shut down completely at first. Soon, however, special projects emerged, such as a one-of-a-kind performance of Bach's "St. John Passion" from the Bach city, Leipzig, or a unique adaptation of Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony" to be performed, musicians socially distanced, in the composer's home town, Bonn.... Show full description