Leonidas Kavakos in conversation with Allan Nilles (31 min.)

Since his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker in 2003, Leonidas Kavakos – the orchestra’s Artist in Residence in the 2012/2013 season – has returned to the orchestra on many occasions. Their work together has included performances of the violin concertos by Beethoven and Sibelius, followed in February 2018 by Alban Berg’s valedictory work for violin and orchestra under the direction of Adam Fischer. It is dedicated “To the Memory of an Angel” and was written to commemorate the death of the 19-year-old Manon Gropius. Kavakos’ musical thinking is also conveyed in a fascinating analysis of the composition which he develops in this conversation with Allan Nilles, one of the Philharmoniker’s violists. They discuss the biographical subtext of the concerto as well as the genius with which Berg combines folkloric elements with the strict principles of twelve-tone music.