Spark

Feature photo: Spark in the cloister

My musical discovery of the year might be Spark . Hanne and Hans Hambucher had us lured again to Bad Wimpfen, to enjoy classical music together in the cloister. The association of friends and sponsors of the Knights' Monastery of St. Peter zu Bad Wimpfen organized the 13th benefit concert to preserve this unique monastery complex. And the motto of this benefit concert was "Bach-Berio-Beatles". This piqued my interest immediately Hans Hambucher reinforced this by pointing out that these musicians had already rocked the Kreuzgang about 5 years ago.

And that's how I got to know the chamber music ensemble Spark. Spark played in his current cast in the Bad-Wimpfen monastery. Andrea Knight (Recorder), Daniel Koschitzki (recorder and melodica), Stefan Balazsovics (violin and viola), Victor Plumettaz (cello) and ChristianFritz (Piano).

And according to the motto of the concert, there were works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Luciano Berio, John Lennon and Paul McCartney to hear, as well as more from Sebastian Bartman and Victor Plumettaz himself. The first composers alone promise true musical enjoyment, but what the ensemble made of it was just wonderful and really refreshing; Norwegian Wood's interpretation almost knocked my socks off. The Bach interpretations went even better with the book I'm currently reading, "Gödel, Escher, Bach". And I'm pretty sure the authors do too Douglas R Hofstadter would be seen like that.

But the quintet was not only enthusiastic about their music, but also the respective introductions of Daniel Koschitzki to the pieces, including the small spikes against Christopher Graupner and Georg Philipp Teleman, were very interesting. So exciting that I immediately bought a CD — once again after a long time. This CD, a commissioned work that Spark brought together with the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra, is entitled "Facets of Infinity - playing with the concept of infinity" and again fits the GEB book quite well. The composer of the work is Johannes Motschmann. While the music you just heard is very different from what Spark is playing today, it shows the breadth of musical diversity Spark's game offers.

The award was justified as follows at the ECHO Klassik award ceremony in 2011: “Spark convince with a unique mixture of joy of playing and technical brilliance. In doing so, they overcome all stylistic boundaries with musical fire.” There is hardly a better way to put it.

The chamber music ensemble Spark was founded in 2007 by the recorder players Andrea Knight and Daniel Koschitzki was founded and has since undergone a few changes in the instrumentation of the piano and strings. I liked today Stefan Balazsovics and ChristianFritz best on the piano, although I really admire how quickly and smoothly the two flutists switch instruments.

As I was able to find out today, the next recording will even be released as an LP, I certainly won't be able to resist it.

Without a doubt, this year's Klassik concert in the cloister was once again a complete success. Even the weather cooperated and so we were able to take a short walk through the monastery garden during the break. My thanks go to Hanne and Hans Hambucher, so it was a pleasure for me and my better half to take the charming hint from Hans Hambucher to follow and become a member of the Association of Friends and Sponsors of the Knights' Foundation of St. Peter zu Bad Wimpfen.

Let's just hope it doesn't take too long to see Spark live again.