Between The Bars

When you explore the world as much as we do, you always encounter incredible people with fascinating stories to tell. Between The Bars with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra takes you behind the scenes and beyond classical music through conversations with the artists and people that we meet on our journey exploring the world.

Home, Belonging, "Heimat" with Valentina-Katharina Georgoulopoulos 03/30/2024

Home, Belonging, "Heimat" with Valentina-Katharina Georgoulopoulos In this episode, MCO's Outreach and Education Manager, Valentina-Katharina Georgoulopoulos, joins host Yannick Dondelinger to explore the concept of "Heimat" (home and belonging). With members originating from 27 diverse countries, "Heimat" holds much significance for the MCO. Valentina shares insights into crafting a unique concert format, that was developed in collaboration with the MCO musicians. Specifically tailored for younger audiences, Valentina and Yannick uncover both the challenges and rewards of engaging young listeners. Join them to discover "Heimat" and explore how our upcoming school festival in Berlin aims to further immerse students in the journey of finding their sense of home. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/30578413

#11 PART 3 - Kids on Board with Johannes Lörstad & Emma Schied 12/21/2023

#11 PART 3 - Kids on Board with Johannes Lörstad & Emma Schied It's a fact - life changes when a little one comes on the scene. But how do you navigate the realms of parenthood when you're a musician and part of an internationally traveling orchestra? Host Yannick Dondelinger sits down with fellow MCO musicians Johannes Lörstad (violin) and Emma Schied (oboe) to discuss their lives before and since having children. Complementing their conversation, producer Matthias Mayr uncovers some touching insights from the other side. Young MCO-ers Mathilda Lörstad and Oliver Dondelinger, provide a glimpse into life as children on board a musician's journey. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/29181383

#11 PART 2 - Kids on Board with Johannes Lörstad & Emma Schied 12/17/2023

#11 PART 2 - Kids on Board with Johannes Lörstad & Emma Schied It's a fact - life changes when a little one comes on the scene. But how do you navigate the realms of parenthood when you're a musician and part of an internationally traveling orchestra? Host Yannick Dondelinger sits down with fellow MCO musicians Johannes Lörstad (violin) and Emma Schied (oboe) to discuss their lives before and since having children. Complementing their conversation, producer Matthias Mayr uncovers some touching insights from the other side. Young MCO-ers Mathilda Lörstad and Oliver Dondelinger, provide a glimpse into life as children on board a musician's journey. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/29111033

#11 PART 1 - Kids on Board with Johannes Lörstad & Emma Schied 12/12/2023

#11 PART 1 - Kids on Board with Johannes Lörstad & Emma Schied It's a fact - life changes when a little one comes on the scene. But how do you navigate the realms of parenthood when you're a musician and part of an internationally traveling orchestra? Host Yannick Dondelinger sits down with fellow MCO musicians Johannes Lörstad (violin) and Emma Schied (oboe) to discuss their lives before and since having children. Complementing their conversation, producer Matthias Mayr uncovers some touching insights from the other side. Young MCO-ers Mathilda Lörstad and Oliver Dondelinger, provide a glimpse into life as children on board a musician's journey. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/29037728

#10 PART 3 - The Big Goodbye with Patricia Kopatchinskaja 08/20/2022

#10 PART 3 - The Big Goodbye with Patricia Kopatchinskaja In her staged project "Les Adieux", Patricia Koptchinskaja points out the many goodbyes she feels we will have to take in the near future. The final goodbye, or the Big Goodbye, will be one to ourselves. In the third, and final, episode of the Big Goodbye, Between the Bars host Yannick Dondelinger finds out how the concept of the project came to Patricia and how we could interpret what she puts on the stage! / 'Les Adieux' is generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR", with the kind support of the Rudolf Augstein Foundation. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/24035127

#10 PART 2 - The Big Goodbye with Patricia Kopatchinskaja 08/12/2022

#10 PART 2 - The Big Goodbye with Patricia Kopatchinskaja In the second episode of "The Big Goodbye", Patricia Kopatchinskaja speaks about growing up in rural Moldova and connecting to nature from an early age, the sound of the raindrops and the momentum of the wind were her first musical teachers. This connection with her inner child makes her want to look at the tradition of performing music. She creates her own story with the compositions, shedding off what has grown on them throughout the years. / 'Les Adieux' is generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR", with the kind support of the Rudolf Augstein Foundation. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/24003006

#10 PART 1 - The Big Goodbye with Patricia Kopatchinskaja 08/05/2022

#10 PART 1 - The Big Goodbye with Patricia Kopatchinskaja Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja is not only known for her extraordinary musical skills but also for the trailblazing staged projects, in which she does not shy away from current world issues. In Les Adieux, a project of Patricia with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, she focuses on climate change and the rapid deterioration of our planet. How much time have we got left on Earth? When will our natural resources be used up? When will natural disasters, rising sea levels and new illnesses bring us to our knees? The Between the Bars team met up with Patricia whilst touring through Hamburg. In the first episode of the 3-part series The Big Goodbye, they sat down with the controversial artist and discussed her motivation and drive for Les Adieux. // 'Les Adieux' is generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR", with the kind support of Rudolf Augstein Foundation. // photo: Julia Wesely /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/23966967

#9 PART 4 - Mozart Momentum in conversation: Mozart in our time 05/05/2022

#9 PART 4 - Mozart Momentum in conversation: Mozart in our time For the final episode of Mozart Momentum: in conversation, we focus on "Mozart in our time". How does our interpretation and performance of Mozart's works differ from when they were conveived 250 years ago? Host Yannick Dondelinger discusses the relevance, beauty and timelessness of Mozart's work in the last instalment of our mini-series with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and concertmaster Matthew Truscott. // Special thanks to the voice acting of Michiel Commandeur, Stephanie Baubin, Matthias Mayr and Anna Costa. // Generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR". /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/23015723

#9 PART 3 - Mozart Momentum in conversation: A freelancer is born 04/22/2022

#9 PART 3 - Mozart Momentum in conversation: A freelancer is born Everybody knows Mozart for his operas, symphonies and concert pieces, but not all know that he was a pioneer who fought for professional and artistic freedom. The composer is often considered the first musician who emancipated himself from the subordination of the feudal system and worked as a freelancer. What did those freelance days look like? How did it influence his compositions during that time? Answer these and more questions by joining us in part three of Mozart Momentum: in conversation: A freelancer is born. Together with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and violinist Matthew Truscott, host Yannick Dondelinger digs into the archives to unravel the life of Mozart, the freelancer. Thanks to the voice acting of Michiel Commandeur and Stephanie Baubin. // Generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR". /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/22879382

#9 PART 2 - Mozart Momentum in conversation: Family, Friendship, Freemasonry 04/17/2022

#9 PART 2 - Mozart Momentum in conversation: Family, Friendship, Freemasonry For the last seven years of his life, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a member of the Freemasons. How did the Masonic order influence the life and work of the composer? Find out in the second episode of Mozart Momentum: In Conversation, a four-part podcast series where host Yannick Dondelinger dives deep into two of the most creative years of Mozart's life together with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and violinist Matthew Truscott. // Generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR". // Special thanks to Stephanie Baubin for lending her voice to this episode. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/22815023

#9 PART 1 - Mozart Momentum in conversation: The Inventor 04/08/2022

#9 PART 1 - Mozart Momentum in conversation: The Inventor 1785/1786, two of the most fruitful years in Mozart's life as a composer, inspired the MCO and Leif Ove Andsnes to partner up for a multiyear recording- and performing project: Mozart Momentum 1785/1786. As the second album of the project launches, focusing on the year 1786, Between the Bars hosts a four-part miniseries podcast exploring the life of Mozart in those two vital years. In part one: 'Mozart Momentum in Conversation: The Inventor', we join host Yannick Dondelinger as he discusses Mozart as the inventor of the piano concerto and the importance of his presence in Vienna together with Leif Ove Andsnes and MCO concertmaster Matthew Truscott. Special thanks to voice actors Michiel Commandeur, Stephanie Baubin and Matthias Mayr. Generously supported by the German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through "NEUSTART KULTUR". /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/22726166

#8 Music in VR - The Unanswered Question 02/08/2022

#8 Music in VR - The Unanswered Question Imagine walking on stage in the middle of a concert, submerging yourself into the music as you walk between the musicians. With VR performances entering the terrain of classical music, this is no longer just a dream. Join our host Yannick Dondelinger in discussion with 3D sound specialist Henrik Oppermann and violinist Timothy Summers as they discover the wondrous world of virtual reality and its application to classical music. For a complete experience, we highly recommend listening to the episode with headphones. Photo by Geoffroy Schied /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/22060946

#7 Eat, Sleep, Dream, Compose. George Benjamin. 08/26/2021

#7 Eat, Sleep, Dream, Compose. George Benjamin. Ever since he was a child, Sir George Benjamin wanted to be a composer. At only twenty, his piece ‘Ringed by the Flat Horizon’ was played at the BBC Proms. Fourty years on and the MCO, under George’s baton, will present the world premiere of ‘Concerto for Orchestra’ at the same event. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/20272601

#6 Music In My Head | Paul Whittaker on Music & Deafness 08/05/2021

#6 Music In My Head | Paul Whittaker on Music & Deafness For the next edition of Between the Bars, join host Yannick Dondelinger as he speaks with Paul Whittaker, deaf musician, performer and creative advisor of our Feel the Music education programme. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/20045078

#5 From Rolando Villazón With Love | Mozartwoche & MCO 04/01/2021

#5 From Rolando Villazón With Love | Mozartwoche & MCO World-renowned tenor, opera director, novelist, cartoonist and artistic director of one of classical music's biggest festivals, the Salzburg Mozartwoche, Rolando Villazón is a man of many, many, many talents. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/18550925

#4 Future Fear, Future Fantastic | Pekka Kuusisto 12/07/2020

#4 Future Fear, Future Fantastic | Pekka Kuusisto What will the future look like? Sound like? Be like? /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/17047133

#3 Mozart On The Edge Of Brexit 05/25/2020

#3 Mozart On The Edge Of Brexit It was the night before Brexit, and the MCO was in the heart of London performing Mozart with Mitsuko Uchida to a sold-out Royal Festival Hall. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/14555891

#2 The Flying Conductor | Daniel Harding 01/17/2020

#2 The Flying Conductor | Daniel Harding Meet the musician who takes being a high-flying success more literally than most. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/12767297

#1 Musical Migration | Kirsty Hilton & Mark Hampson 01/17/2020

#1 Musical Migration | Kirsty Hilton & Mark Hampson Sunscreen in winter? Sleeping with one eye shut? /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/12764681

Introducing Between The Bars 01/17/2020

Introducing Between The Bars Somewhere between being artists and explorers, the MCO have discovered a secret sweet spot backstage, where the worldly life of being a touring musician gives way to unexpected encounters and life-changing experiences. /episode/index/show/mcopodcast/id/12767699

Between The Bars

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