Gregor A. Mayrhofer

News Archive

  • LISTEN TO: 

    Belgian National Radio // Klara VRT Radio: Plastic bottle cadenza  with Vivi Vassileva 

    Thursday, 05th of September 2023, 21.35pm 

    Click here to get to the live radio.

  • I am overwhelmed to be nominated for OPUS KLASSIK in 4 different categories: 

    - Young artist of the year (conductor)
    - Composter of the year 
    - Best music video clip 
    - Most innovative concert (Recycling Concerto together with Vivi Vassileva

    See all nominees here

    For more information about the Recycling Concerto, click here

  • Video of the premiere of "We are earth" on 13th of November 2022 at Berlin Philharmonic
    11th climate concert of the Orchestra of Change (Staatskapelle Berlin)

    Secular Oratorio - We are earth - is now available on youtube.
    Commissioned work for the Foundation for Cultural Renewal

    With:
    Orchestra of Change with musicians of Staatskapelle Berlin 
    Choir of Change (Choir of Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, Rias Chamber Choir, Berlin Radio Choir) 
    Rinnat Moriah, soprano
    Ema Nikolovska, mezzo-soprano
    Conny Thimander, tenor 
    David Steffens, bass  
    Markus Vogt, libretto 

    Dramaturgy and text collaboration
    Juliane Hendes, Matthias Fuchs, Felicitas Magdalena Pfaus, and Elisabeth Mayrhofer

    Direction: Gregor A. Mayrhofer

    After more than three years of development time, I am more than happy to share with you the recording of my most important composition so far:

    "We are Earth"

    This "secular oratorio" describes musically the numerous crises we face (climate change, environmental pollution, social divisions between cultures, religions and between poor and rich), but also the solutions and perspectives of four different characters who can be seen as representatives of our society, or as parts of our own personality.
    The piece develops a musical dialoge, that tries to overcome our inactivity by bringing together the scientific analysis of a dataist, the spiritual visions of a theist/artist, the moral appeals of a humanist and the critical view of a skepticist.

    Inspired by Pope Francis' environmental encyclical "Laudato si'", the piece wants to connect people with different opinions: scientists and religious people, artists and researchers, dreamers and realists.
    We wanted to make a statement to overcome all differences of culture and opinion in order to find peaceful and sustainable solutions to the urgent problems of our time.

  • World premiere 1st string quartet
    Composition commissioned by the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts 2020

    16th of May 2023, 7 pm

    Here's the event!

    Asasello Quartet:
    Rostislav Kozhevnikov, violin
    Barbara Streil, violin
    Justyna Sliwa, Viola
    Teemu Myöhänen, cello

    Moderation: Tobias PM Schneid, Thomas Larcher

    Concert program

    Thomas Larcher
    IXXU / 2nd string quartet (1998-2004)

    I. Fleeting, nervous
    II. Very fast, precise
    III. Quiet
    IV. Presto subito

    Gregor A. Mayrhofer
    String Quartet (2023)

    I. Allegro
    II. Adagio
    III. Prestissimo con spirito

  • 8th symphony concert // cycle nature

    16th of April 2023, 11 am
    17th of April 2023, 8 pm

    Works by Mayrhofer, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and Debussy

    Gregor A. Mayrhofer, direction
    Braunschweig State Orchestra

    Cycle nature

    Gregor A. Mayrhofer
    Insect Concerto for solo violin and orchestra

    Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
    The Hebrides, op. 26

    Claude Debussy
    La Mer, three symphonic sketches for orchestra

    The focus is on two contemporary compositions, each with its own unique perspective on nature, as well as a classic of nature tone paintings, one of the best-known examples of musical impressionism. In 2019, composer and conductor Gregor A. Mayrhofer wrote his »Insect Concerto«, the first piece that brings singing insects and classical musicians together in the concert hall. With the interaction of insects and humans, Mayrhofer points out the important role that insects play in our ecosystems. Insects, which account for about three quarters of the biomass on our planet, are at the beginning of the food chain as food for birds and pollinators for plants. Animals and humans feed on these in turn.

    Musical direction: Gregor A. Mayrhofer
    Braunschweig State Orchestra

  • SWR2 evening concert (concert on April 6th in the auditorium of the New University of Heidelberg)

    Heidelberg Spring Music Festival 2023

    15th of April 2023, 8.03pm 
    Works by Busoni, Berg, Schönberg, Webern and Zemlinsky.

    Katrien Baerts, soprano
    Het Collectief 
    Gregor A. Mayrhofer, direction

    Listen here to the concert recording! 

    Concert recording SWR2 evening concert

    Ferruccio Busoni
    Berceuse élégiaque op. 42, arranged by Arnold Schönberg

    Alban Berg
    7 early songs arranged by Reinbert de Leeuw

    Arnold Schoenberg
    Chamber Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 9, arranged by Anton Webern

    Alexander Zemlinsky
    6 songs after Maeterlinck op. 13, arranged by Reinbert de Leeuw, Erwin Stein, Leonard Stein

    Anton Webern
    Passacaglia op. 1, arranged by Reinbert de Leeuw

    A truly exclusive form of musical gatherings was practiced around 1920 by Arnold Schönberg's "Association for Private Musical Performances", which dedicated itself to the exemplary rehearsal of key works of the Second Viennese School. Clapping and other public reactions were forbidden - it was all about the art. Het Collectief from Belgium is an ensemble of exquisite soloists, reviving the association's transparent chamber music versions. As unreservedly expressive as the group performs, the key works of the founding fathers of modernism reveal their deeply romantic inner life.

  • Thanks to NRC for this nice review of the Dutch premiere of my ♻️RECYCLING CONCERT♻️ in Den Haag with the wonderful ensemble Residentie Orkest and the fabulous percussionist Vivi Vassileva conducted by Anja Bihlmaier. A great memory of a great concert evening!

    Click here for the full article.

  • Insect Respect 

    Insect Day - Rethink 
    Environmental forum Berlin 

    30th of March 2023, 7pm 

    Soundinstallation Insect Concerto 

  • Concert debut with the Orchester National Bordeaux Aquitaine

    Wednesday, 11th of January 2023 at the Bordeaux Auditorium

    Piotr Illitch Tchaikovsky
    Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
    Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36

    The legendary pianist Khatia Buniatishvili will be also there.

    More information about the concert is available here: Opera National Bordeaux Aquitaine 

  • The last days of 2022 are slowly coming to an end...

    A year that I look back on gratefully and happily, a year with wonderful musical highlights, encounters with great artists and fabulous concerts in all sorts of places around the world.

    I wish you all the best for the new year, health and many beautiful musical moments and concert experiences!

    Yours, Gregor A. Mayrhofer

  • STEFAN LITWIN - PROGRAM VOL. 7 "KINDERSZENEN" 

    Robert Schumann
    Fantasy pieces op. 12 and Scenes from Childhood op. 15

    Stefan Litwin
    »Scenes from Childhoof« for 8 players and Sampler (2018)

    Stefan Litwin, piano
    Ensemble Ascolta
    Gregor A. Mayrhofer, direction

    telos music recordings (2022)

    Get the CD here


  • Climate Concert // World premiere

    "We are Earth" - secular oratorio inspired by the environmental encyclical "Laudato si''
    Commissioned work for the Foundation for Cultural Renewal World

    World premiere: 13th of November 2022 in the Berlin Philharmonic

    With works by J.S.Bach, Thorsten Encke and Camille Saint-Säens

    Orchester des Wandels with musicians of Staatskapelle Berlin 
    Choir of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin 
    Tanja Tetzlaff, violoncello 
    Rinnat Moriah, soprano
    Ema Nikolovska, mezzosopran
    Conny Thimander, tenor 
    David Steffens, bass 
    Gregor A. Mayrhofer, direction
    Markus Vogt, libretto 

    Dramaturgy and text collaboration
    Juliane Hendes, Matthias Fuchs, Felicitas Magdalena Pfaus, Elisabeth Mayrhofer

    Get your ticket now or call +49 30 / 203 545 55


  • Climate Concert // World premiere

    You can read the interview in the Concerti here.
    You can read the article in the Süddeutsche Zeitung
    here.

    "We are Earth" - secular oratorio inspired by the environmental encyclical "Laudato si''
    Commissioned work for the Foundation for Cultural Renewal World

    World premiere: 13th of November 2022 in the Berlin Philharmonic

    With works by J.S.Bach, Thorsten Encke and Camille Saint-Säens

    Orchester des Wandels with musicians of Staatskapelle Berlin 
    Choir of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin 
    Tanja Tetzlaff, violoncello 
    Rinnat Moriah, soprano
    Ema Nikolovska, mezzosopran
    Conny Thimander, tenor 
    David Steffens, bass 
    Gregor A. Mayrhofer, direction
    Markus Vogt, libretto 

    Dramaturgy and text collaboration
    Juliane Hendes, Matthias Fuchs, Felicitas Magdalena Pfaus, Elisabeth Mayrhofer

    Get your ticket now or call +49 30 / 203 545 55

  • University Mozarteum Salzburg

    A wonderful concert program with works by Helmut Lachenmann, Luigi Nono and Mark Andre
    Composer Helmut Lachenmann will be there himself!

    6th of November 2022, 6pm

    Students and alumni of the University Mozarteum Salzburg
    œnm - austrian ensemble for new music
    Nora Skuta, piano
    Helmut Lachenmann, speaker
    Gregor Mayrhofer, conductor

    Click here for the event! 

  • NOW ONLINE: Recycling Concerto with Britten Sinfonia 

    Snape Maltings Concert Hall 19th of June 2022 at Aldeburgh Music Festival 2022

    Recording: Eastwood Records 
    Camera Operators: Will Hazell, Guy Wingmore
    Video editor: Guy Wingmore
    Audio producer and Engineer: Myles Eastwood

    Special thanks to Erich Fischer and the "International Foundation for the support of Culture and Civilization" who made it possible to realize this movie through their generous support.
    www.internationalestiftung.de

    Watch here the full video. 

  • "The Recycling Concerto creating a smash out of trash" writes The Big Issue in July about the English premiere of the Recycling Concerto at the Aldeburgh Festival with Britten Sinfonia and percussionist Vivi Vassileva.

    The article has now been republished in the Japanese magazine The Big Issue Japan.

    The full English article is available here.

  • "Klangspuren" in the House of Music

    Great television report to the Austrian premiere of the Recycling Concerto on 21st of September at the Klangspuren Schwaz Festival with konsTellation plus and Vivi Vassileva.

    Click here to watch the full Recycling Concerto report. 

  • LISTEN TO: 

    BR-Classic Podcast Do Re Mikro: Wonderful world of small animals/insects 

    Sunday, 03th of July 5:05 pm on BR Children

  • The Times - "The recycling concerto being played on upcycled rubbish"

    It's a startling combination, but together the blend is seamless. There's drama in the music alternating with playfulness. (...) Mayrhofer and Vassileva have taken the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" to heart. (The Times) 

    Find here the article on The Times

    To be heard in CONCERT at the Aldeburgh Festival with Britten Sinfonia and Vivi Vassileva: 

    Sunday, 19th of June 2022 at 5pm in Suffolk, Snape Maltings Concert Hall 

  • TO LISTEN TO: 

    hr2 culture - music portrait
    ​​​​​​​Musikland Hessen - News, concert recordings and background information

    Saturday 18th of June 2022, 3-5pm on hr2 culture

  • TO LISTEN TO: 

    WDR 3 - music portrait 
    Cricket pizzicato - the composer Gregor A. Mayrhofer

    From Sabine Fringes 

    Monday 6th of June 2022, 03.04pm on WDR 3

  • LISTEN TO: 

    Contemporary positions in music on the climate crisis and the species extinction 
    What consequences do contemporary musicians draw for their work? 

    Monday, 23rd of May 11pm-00:05am on rbbKultur 

    With excerpts from Gregor A. Mayrhofer's Recycling Concerto (recording from SWR, 7th of February 2022) 

    Vivi Vassileva, percusssion
    Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen 
    Alexander Liebreich, direction

  • NOW ONLINE: 

    Einsamkeit Du stummer Bronnen (world premiere: 20th of October 2021) 

    Live-Recording SWR Schwetzinger Festspiele on 25th of October 2021 

    Julian Prégardien tenor
    Marie-Elisabeth Hecker violoncello
    Martin Helmchen piano

    Watch here the full video. 

  • Triple world premiere at SWR2  NowMusic

    Works of Saed Haddad, Ying Wang and Volker Heyn 


    SWR Symphonieorchester 
    SWR Experimentalstudio 
    Pedro Carneiro, quarter tone marimba 
    Direction: Gregor A. Mayrhofer 


    Fri. 4th of February 2022 - 6pm - Theaterhaus Stuttgart 
    For more information, click here. 

    The concert will also be streamed on 25th of February at 8.05pm on SWR2 Evening concert. 

    Concert program 

    Saed Haddad
    World premiere: New Work for Quarter tone marimba & orchestra

    Ying Wang
    World premiere: 528 Hz 8ⱽᴬ. New version for orchestra with electronics

    Volker Heyn
    World premiere: Ferro Canto for orchestra & tape

  • World premiere and tour "Recycling Concerto" 

    Württemberg Philharmonic Orchesta Reutlingen
    Vivi Vassileva, percussion 
    Direction: Alexander Liebreich 

    Fri. 4th of February 2022 - 7:30pm - Tauberphilharmonie Weikersheim (UA) 
    Mon. 7th of February 2022 - 8pm - Town Hall Reutlingen 
    Wed. 9th of February 2022 - 7:30pm - Theatre Coesfeld 
    Fri. 11th of February 2022 - 7:30pm - Town Hall Lahr 

    For more information about the Recycling Concerto, click here

     

    The topic of environmental destruction dominates this moment in time. In particular we must urgently decide what to do about our trash, waste and poisonous materials. The composer and conductor Gregor A. Mayrhofer saw this as an opportunity to address the issues in a musical way.
    Various new percussion instruments were developed for the piece, all made from recycled materials. Nothing new is purchased - all percussion sounds are created only from discarded materials that would otherwise go to waste. 

  • Triple premiere for the season opening in Zaryadye concert hall 

    Debut with MusicAeterna - Russian debut - Russian premiere of the "Insect Concerto" 

    Selected works of Britten, Dvořák and Mayrhofer 


    MusicAeterna
    Dir.: Gregor A. Mayrhofer

    Saturday, 4th of September 2021 - 7pm - Zaryadye concert hall - Moscow 
    For more information, click here. 

     

    Concert programme: 

    Gregor A. Mayrhofer: Insect Concerto
    for Solo violin and orchestra 

    Benjamin Britten: Four Sea Interludes from the opera "Peter Grimes" for symphonic orchestra, op. 33a
    Dawn
    Sunday Morning
    Moonlight
    Storm

    ---
    Antonín Dvořák: The New World Symphony, op. 95
    Adagio - Allegro molto
    Largo
    Molto vivace 
    Allegro con fuoco 

     

    For more information to the season opening concert, click here. 

  • Lucile Richardot, Mezzo-Sopran
    Yves Saelens, Tenor

    Het Collectief
    Dir. Gregor A. Mayrhofer

    20:00 Klarafestival RADIO LIVESTREAM:
    https://www.klarafestival.be/en/concert/das-lied-von-der-erde

  • The dutch newspaper NRC voted for the best concert experiences of the year 2020.
    Our Mahler Concert with Lucile Richardot, Yves Saelens and the Het Collectief was voted on to be the 3rd best, the recording even 2nd best of the year.

    Link to the newspaper: www.nrc.nl

  • "Why is cultur relevant?"
    "How important is music in a movie?"
    "How influences Corona us artists?"

    Read the full interview here:

    Süddeutsche Zeitung "We are all lonely like a fly in the web"

  • NOW ONLINE:
    My arrangement of John Dowland: "Weep you no more sad fountains"

    sung by Teodor Currentzis and Patricia Kopatchinskaja
    in the season opening of the SWR Symphonyorchestra


    Youtube-Link: Currentzis / Kopatchinskaja / Dowland

    Review of the Süddeutsche Zeitung

  • Score: Ralf Wengenmayr
    Orchestra: German Movie Orchestra Babelsberg
    Conductor: Gregor A. Mayrhofer

    Buy here the CD with the original soundtrack

  • Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
    Lucile Richardot (Mezzo-Soprano), Yves Saelens (Tenor)
    Het Collectief
    Direction: Gregor A. Mayrhofer

    Mi. 31.09.2020  20:00 Uhr
    Netherlands Radio NPO Radio 4
    Listen online: NPO - Radio 4

  • Gregor A. Mayrhofer is Artist in Residence at BASF Culture 2020 in Ludwigshafen.

  • Das Präludium schlägt zurück

    FR. 31.07.2020  20:00 Uhr
    Kulturbühne Hinterhalt

    Watch LIVE STREAM here:
    https://youtu.be/DYLCn6dz2WI

  • Gregor A. Mayrhofer conducted the recording sessions with the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg of Ralf Wengenmayr's movie score to "Jim Button and the Wild 13". The German premiere will take place at October 8, 2020.