‘Heartbreak’ as Essen Philharmonic cancels premiere performance of violin concerto

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The German violinist Carolin Widmann has described herself as ‘heartbroken’ not to be able to premiere a new violin concerto, after the Essen Philharmonic changed the programme days before the performances.

Widmann had been preparing Italian composer Clara Iannotta’s violin concerto sand like gold-leaf smithereens as part of Iannotta’s residency at the NOW! Festival and Widmann’s residency at the Philharmonie Essen for performances on 30 and 31 October.

However, the Essen Philharmonic has now announced that Iannotta’s piece has been replaced by Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto.

In an Instagram post, Widmann said ‘the orchestra has decided in a vote not to perform this violin concerto premiere’. Regarding her preparation of the piece, she said she had immersed herself in the sound world of the concerto, which was written for detuned violin, orchestra and electronics, and was ‘very excited to play the premiere… this piece already had a special place in my heart’.

She concluded: ‘I am sure that Clara’s work wasn’t in vain and that I will be able to use my detuned violin hopefully soon for the premiere of this beautiful piece under different circumstances.

‘I deeply regret the loss of opportunity to hear and play this music, for the composer, for myself, us musicians and the audience alike.’

Iannotta also took to Instagram to express her disappointment. She wrote: ‘Two years ago, during an initial meeting with the orchestra’s management, I asked whether I could also use unconventional instruments as part of the orchestration,’ which she states has been a fundamental element of her compositional practice.

‘At that meeting, I was initially informed that the use of objects would not be allowed. I told them that this would be like programming my name without my music. After that, they reassured me I could do whatever I needed. And so, I wrote the piece.’

Iannotta states that the orchestra then requested an additional fee to cover the orchestration of objects and extended techniques, which Iannotta claimed was ‘a price so high it was effectively an obstruction.

‘In a secret vote, 30 per cent of musicians refused to play the piece, and the orchestra ultimately cancelled the performance, without even consulting the conductor, Elena Schwarz, or the soloist, Carolin Widmann.’

Schwarz has since cancelled her appearances at the performances, and will be replaced by Tito Ceccherini. In announcing the change of programme and personnel, the Essen Philharmonic said: ‘The NOW! Festival apologises to the composer Clara Iannotta for not clearly communicating the framework conditions for the composition assignment. Because of this, Clara Iannotta assumed different conditions in her composition than initially suggested by the conductor of the orchestra.’