Concerto Discreto | Deutsche Welle

Israelis Shirley Brill and Jonathen Aner merge their talents as clarinetist and pianist, respectively, in their dynamic "Duo Brillaner."At 13 years of age, Jonathan Aner heard Sharon Kam playing the clarinet and immediately fell in love with the sound - so much so, that he wanted give up playing the piano for the clarinet. Fortunately, he didn't do that, but he did encounter another clarinetist some years later: Shirley Brill. The two Israelis ended up becoming a couple, both on and off stage - dubbing themselves "Duo Brillaner" in 1999. Brill studied at the Jerusalem Music Center, while Aner attended the University of Music and Drama in Hanover, Germany. Brill continued her training at the University of Music in Luebeck, Germany, as well as at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Fans of the Concerto Discreto series could enjoy the duo's harmonious interaction at a concert on February 1, 2010, in which they played a wide variety from the clarinet repertoire - from Carl Maria von Weber's virtuoso "Grand duo" for clarinet and piano to composer and clarinetist Joerg Widmann's "Fantasy." Widmann himself was slated to be the performer and composer of the evening, but his last-minute cancellation turned out to be a stroke of luck for the audience, who could appreciate the "blind date" with the two Berlin-based musicians - the Duo Brillaner. PROGRAM Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) Sonata for clarinet and piano -Allegro Tristamente -Romanza -Finale: Allegro con fuoco Philippe Gaubert (1879-1941) Fantasy for clarinet and piano Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) Grand Duo Concertant in E-flat Major, op. 48, J 204 -Allegro con fuoco -Andante con moto -Rondo-Allegro Joerg Widmann (1973-) Fantasy for clarinet Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, op. 120 -Allegro appassionato -Andante un poco adagio -Allegretto grazioso -Vivace Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) Arabesque for clarinet and piano (encore) Performed by Shirley Brill (clarinet) and Jonathan Aner (piano) on February 1, 2010 at the Arithmeum in Bonn as part of the Concerto Discreto series, sponsored and recorded by Deutsche Welle.

Singer Morgan Crowley and pianist and composer Alexander Bermange performed at this special concert entitled "Christmas on Broadway."Morgan Crowley comes from an Irish-American family of artists. A graduate of the Dublin College of Music, he's at home both on the opera stage and in musicals. In December 2009 he was a welcome guest of Deutsche Welle in its concert series in Bonn for the second time, appearing again with Alexander Bermange, his friend and collaborator. Bermange is a promising young musical composer, and in combination with Crowley, more than just a piano accompanist. PROGRAM John Jacob Niles (1892-1980) Lullay, thou tiny little child anon. Greensleeves Kurt Weill (1900-1950) This is New Jerome Kern (1885-1945) The Way You Look Tonight Frank Loesser (1910-1969) Luck Be A Lady Tonight Alexander S. Bermange (1976-) Easy as A.P.C. Alexander S. Bermange (1976-) Praying for You Marvin Hamlisch (1944-) Let There be Time Benny Andersson (1946-) / Björn Ulvaeus (1945-) Our Last Summer Joseph Kosma (1905-1969) Les feuilles mortes Irving Berlin (1888-1989) White Christmas Morgan Crowley The Wonder of Christmas Chopin/O'kun/Crowley Minute Waltz George Gershwin (1898-1937) By Strauss Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) My Funny Valentine Marguerite Monnot (1903-1961) If You Love Me, Really Love Me Mel Torme (1925-1999) The Christmas Song Stephen Sondheim (1930-) Losing My Mind Henry Mancini (1924-1994) Moon River Hugh Martin (1914-) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) Somewhere, from West Side Story Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863) Silent Night, Holy Night Performed by Morgan Crowley (tenor) and Alexander Bermange (piano) on December 14, 2009, as part of the Concerto Discreto series, sponsored and recorded by Deutsche Welle.

"The world will surely hear about him…," wrote one enthusiastic critic about Serge Zimmermann from Cologne, Germany. The quote became the title of this Concerto Discreto concert.Born in Cologne in 1991, Zimmermann comes from a family of musicians. His father is the renowned violinist Frank-Peter Zimmermann, and his mother began to teach him the violin when he was five years old. In 2000, he gave his orchestral debut with a Mozart violin concerto. Five years later, he played his first recital in the German city of Essen; his interpretation of the Bruch Violin Concerto in 2006 garnered him enthusiastic press reviews. One raved, "…even the orchestra joined in the audience's rejoicing." PROGRAM Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Sonata in A Minor for violin and piano, D. 385 Anton Webern (1883–1945) Four Pieces for violin and piano, op. 7 Robert Schumann (1810–1856) Sonata No. 1 in A Minor for violin and piano, op. 105 Cesar Franck (1822–1890) Sonata in A Major for violin and piano Pablo de Sarasate (1844–1908) Zapateado in A Major for violin and piano (encore) Performed by Serge Zimmermann (violin) and Nicholas Rimmer (piano) at the Arithmeum in Bonn on November 23, 2009 as part of the Concerto Discreto concert series, sponsored and recorded by Deutsche Welle.

Lucia Huang and German Sebastian Euler play music for two pianos at this Concerto Discreto concert.Music for two pianos, with its beauty and sparkling, rich variety, impressed audiences at this concert entitled "Magic Hands." The Duo d'Accord - Taiwan-born Lucia Huang and German Sebastian Euler - played works spanning three centuries, from Franz Schubert to Max Reger and contemporary composer John Corigliano. PROGRAM Franz Schubert (1797-1828)Piano Sonata in C Major, D. 812, (Grand Duo)- Allegro moderato- Andante- Scherzo. Allegro vivace- Finale. Allegro vivace Max Reger (1873–1916)Three Waltzes from op. 22- Allegro- Moderato (quasi Andantino)- Allegro vivace Max Reger (1873-1916) Three Burlesques from op. 58 - Äußerst lebhaft - Äußerst schnell und flüchtig - So lebhaft und übermütig als nur möglich John Corigliano (1938-) Gazebo Dances - Overture - Waltz - Adagio - Tarantella Performed on October 19, 2009 at the Arithmeum in Bonn as part of the Concerto Discreto series, sponsored and recorded by Deutsche Welle.

Kuzma Bodrov, a celebrated young pianist and composer from Russia, presents a striking mix of works for piano and violin by mostly Russian composers, including himself. Bodrov is joined by violinist Nikita Borisoglebsky.PROGRAM Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Sonata No.1 in B Minor for violin and piano, BWV 1014 · Adagio · Allegro · Andante · Allegro Pjotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Meditation, op. 42, No.1 Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Five Melodies for violin and piano, op. 35 · Andante · Lento, ma non troppo · Animato, ma non allegro · Allegretto leggero e scherzando · Andante non troppo Kuzma Bodrov (1980-) Cypress for piano solo (2008), world premiere Johann Sebastian Bach Chaconne from the Partita in D Minor for violin solo, BWV 1004 Kuzma Bodrov Rhine Sonata (2009) for violin and piano, world premiere Igor Stravinsky Duo Concertante · Cantilene · Eglogue I · Eglogue II · Gigue · Dithyrambe Johann Sebastian Bach Sonata No. 3 in E Major for Violin and Piano, BWV 1016: 3rd movement, Adagio non tanto (encore) Kuzma Bodrov, piano Nikita Borisoglebsky, violin Performed on March 16, 2009, as part of the Concerto Discreto concert series, sponsored by Deutsche Welle.

Three young, prize-winning musicians from Finland, Czech Republic and Portugal present a colorful and diverse program with music by 19th and 20th century composers from across Europe.PROGRAM Jean Sibelius: Five Esquisses, Op. 14 Einojuhani Rautavaara: Passionale David Popper: Polonaise de Concert, Op. 14 Alexandre Delgado: Lavara Antonin Dvorak: Waldesruh, Op. 68 David Popper: Elfentanz, Op. 39 Bohuslav Martinu: Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Trio, Op. 114 Roope Grondahl, Piano Petr Spacek, Cello Joao Pedro Lopes Santos, Clarinet Performed on March 16, 2009, as part of the Concerto Discreto concert series, sponsored by Deutsche Welle.

Violinist Carolin Widmann juxtaposes seemingly dissimilar works in this unique concert -- Bach's Baroque partita and Boulez' modern electronic experimentation -- but shows both composers achieve a similar spatial effect.PROGRAM Pierre Boulez: Anthemes I for solo violin JS Bach: Partita for solo violin, Nr. 2 in D Minor BWV 1004 Allemande Courante Sarabande Gigue Chaconne Pierre Boulez: Anthemes II for violin and live electronics Carolin Widmann, violin Michael Acker, electronics Gregorio Karman, electronics Performed on Feb. 9, 2009, as part of the Concerto Discreto concert series, sponsored by Deutsche Welle.

Improvisation is a fundamental element of Baroque music -- and of jazz. Acclaimed flautist Nadja Schubert expertly alternates between both genres in this Christmas concert.

The Mahler Chamber Orchestra (MCO), founded in 1997 by Claudio Abbado, performed Mozart's Quintet in E-flat Major, Villa-Lobos' Fantasia Concertante and Poulenc's Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano.

Composer and percussionist Mohamed Basha teamed up with four saxophonists and a bassist for an evening of Egyptian-European musical fusion. The group performed popular film music as well as Basha's own compositions.

Twenty-three year-old Martin Grubinger of Austria is considered a rising star in the percussion world. At the Arithmeum he presents percussion works in a unique chamber setting.

Ukraine's Shchedrick Children's Choir, which has sung for Pope Benedict XVI, performs Russian and Ukrainian folk music alongside Baroque masterpieces.

Irish tenor Morgan Crowley presents a rich spectrum of vocal works from Baroque to Broadway.

Composer Hans Huyssens teams up with legendary South African musician Madosini Manqina Latozi to present a mix of European and African music.

Player piano expert Juergen Hocker present works for an instrument without a live musician -- some are too difficult for human hands.

Turkish pianist and composer Fazil Say performs solo works, mainly by Mozart and himself.

The six-member Ave Maria vocal ensemble from Russia performs works by Mozart, Vivaldi and Brahms, as well as traditional Christmas songs by Russian composers.

Soprano Deborah York and the Lautten-Compagney perform works by early German composers.

Polish singer and composer Agata Zubel performs Tangos von Astor Piazzolla and the Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson by Aaron Copland.