Pavel Haas, Symphony

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

Joshua Weilerstein

Clarinet, Timpani, Performing, Trombone, Cello, Trumpet, Bassoon, Classicalmusic, Performing Arts, Arts, Violin, Flute, Piano, Conductor, Music, Weilerstein

4.9 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 12 January 2023

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This February, I have the great honor of joining the Indianapolis Symphony for the North American premiere of Pavel Haas’ remarkable unfinished symphony. Pavel Haas, a Czech Jewish composer, wrote the existing music for his symphony between 1940 and 1941 before his deportation to the Terezin ghetto/concentration camp. He was a full participant in the well known cultural activities of the camp, but was unable to complete the symphony before he was murdered in Auschwitz in 1944. What Haas did manage to complete is not just a piece that is worth hearing as a historical curiosity, but is one of the towering testaments of both the time in which it was written, and of the unique and innovative Czech symphonic tradition. We are left with 1 fully completed movement, one fully sketched movement, and a "torso" of a third movement. The symphony was completed by the Czech composer Zdenek Zouhar after World War II.

The story of Haas’ death, which we will learn about on the show today is, of course, devastating. Hearing his music reminds all of us of the individual voices that we have lost. The voices of the 6 million Jews, and 6 million others whom the Nazis murdered. But this music also reminds us of the proof that Pavel Haas lived. Haas was one of the truly unique composers of the 20th century, and while his tragic story cannot be detached from his music, the music itself transcends its time and acquires the universality of all great music. It Is truly an honor to be bringing this music to the North American stage for the first time, and at a time of rising Anti-Semitism around the world, I hope that his story, his music, and his voice, will reach far and wide. Join me to learn about this remarkable work.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Sticky Notes, the Classical Music Podcast. My name is Joshua Weilerstein,
0:11.8	I'm a conductor, I'm the Music Director of the Phoenix Orchestra of Boston, and the
0:15.4	Chief Conductor Designate of the All-Borg Symphony. This podcast is for anyone who loves
0:20.1	classical music, works in the field, or is just getting ready to dive in to this amazing
0:24.4	world of incredible music. Before we get started, I want to thank my new Patreon sponsors,
0:28.9	Peter, Michael, Mark, Ruth, Steve, Alan, Julia, Yurgen, Brian, Nancy, Art, Ed, Galen,
0:38.0	Judy, James, Hrishee, Anthony, Susanna, Florian, Nicholas, Jerry, Theresa, Will, and all
0:46.7	of my other Patreon sponsors for making season 9 possible. If you'd like to support the
0:51.2	show, please head over to patreon.com slash sticky notes podcast. And if you are a fan
0:55.6	of the show, please just think a moment to give us a rating or review on Apple podcasts.
0:59.7	Every rating or review, I'll tell more people from the show, and it is greatly appreciated.
1:05.7	So first of all, happy new year, as you can tell by that long list of names that I read
1:09.9	for my new Patreon sponsors, I've been off for a little while. I was off just for the
1:13.4	holidays, and then I got just an unbelievably horrible cold, and I lost my voice and couldn't
1:18.8	record something for you last week, so my apologies, but back this week, and for the following
1:23.9	weeks, we will be having today's episode on Pablo Haas' Symphony, and then I'm going
1:28.4	to be focusing on the great three Stravinsky Ballets with the Firebird, Patrushka, and
1:35.5	then a double episode, which I've totally revamped on the right of spring. I'm also in
1:41.1	Stockholm this week, really excited for our concert with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic
1:44.7	Orchestra, one of my favorite orchestras that I've worked with. We have a very eclectic
1:48.8	program with Sibelius, Lundquist, Ethel Smythe, and Debussy to perform, so I'm really, really
1:56.0	looking forward to that. For this week, I'm really, really happy to share with you an
	...

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