Spotlight on Stefano Gervasoni

2023.02.12. - 2023.02.18.
Budapest Music Center

workshop for conductors and composers

12-18 February, 2023, Budapest, Hungary

Spotlight on Stefano Gervasoni

workshop for conductors and composers

12-18 February, 2023, Budapest, Hungary

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Peter Eötvös Contemporary Music Foundation announces a workshop for conductors and composers between 12-18 February 2023, in Budapest (Hungary). Selected active conductors and mentees of the Foundation will have the possibility to work on a piece by Stefano Gervasoni and on a new composition by mentee composer Sebastian Black will during rehearsals and a live performance, too. The program also includes a world premiere of Máté Balogh, a former mentee composer from Hungary.

COVID UPDATE

Due to the ongoing pandemic cancellations changes are possible in the program. Before traveling make sure to get all the details of the latest travel regulations as these may change quite frequently. To enter our masterclass you have to be fully vaccinated with a proven record. Currently there are no mask mandates and other restrictions in place in Hungary or at the Budapest Music Center.

Stefano Gervasoni is one of the leading contemporary composers of his generation in Europe. Winner of numerous prizes, including the recent "Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation Award" (2018) and Premio della Critica Musicale "Franco Abbiati" (2010). Since 2006 Stefano Gervasoni has held a regular teaching position as professor of composition at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris.

“I consider myself a pure composer, not in the sense that I wish to claim the purity of my sources of inspiration, which are instead numerous and wide-ranging, or that the results of my artistic research are in any way absolute (which is far from my case), or in the way I conceive the task (or rather the “mission”) of a composer. I write music and teach composition, and I view both as an expression of thought – with a strong will to recount and bear witness to the aspirations of our time – respecting history and endeavoring to act on the present to leave traces that are as “clear” and efficient as possible to the future of humanity.”

— Stefano Gervasoni, 2017

As this workshop is part of the foundation’s Mentoring Program there will be a new chamber piece written for the workshop by mentored composer of the foundation, Sebastian Black (UK). The workshop offers working sessions with Peter Eötvös, Stefano Gervasoni, Gregory Vajda and the mentored composer.

The call is open for conductors and composers of all nationalities.

Age limit for active conductors and composers is 35 years, observers (conductors and composers) are accepted without age limit.

The course is suitable for advanced students and professionals with special interest in contemporary music repertoire.

Professors:

PETER EÖTVÖS, conductor and composer (Hungary / Germany), founder
GREGORY VAJDA, conductor and composer (Hungary / USA), program director

Guest: STEFANO GERVASONI, composer (Italy)

Featuring: Ars Nova Ensemble (FR), András Szalai (cimbalom soloist)

Language of the course: English, German, French, Hungarian

Course program for conductors:

Consultations, rehearsals and concert, conductor-cam video recording during concert and concert recording.

Stefano Gervasoni: Gramigna (Edizioni Suvini Zerboni, 2009-2015) 25’

https://www.stefanogervasoni.net/index.asp?page=catalogue&id=53&cat=ensemble

Johannes Brahms: Serenade no. 1. (nonet version) 45’

https://www.juneemersonwindmusic.com/SERENADE-No-1-score-amp-parts--516b78c3-78af-436f-9f47-0ff7275c4c10.html

Máté Balogh: Gilgamesh Recitations (2020-2021) 6’ WORLD PREMIERE supported by National Cultural Fund (The score will be provided in pdf for active participants.)

New piece written for the workshop by Sebastian Black (similar orchestration to Gramigna by Gervasoni). / Score of the new piece will be provided in pdf by email to selected active conductors.

Thorough and detailed knowledge of all works is required for active participation. Each participant must provide his/her own scores. The newly composed piece will be sent to selected active conductors 1 month prior to the workshop unless special circumstances arise.

Application material for active conductors: online application form, video recording, curriculum vitae with repertoire list, photo. Online application submitted through the website of the foundation is obligatory. www.eotvosmusicfoundation.org

Up to 8 conductors will be accepted as “active” participants. The selection will take place based on the video recordings (youtube/ vimeo links) provided by the applicants. Regarding the videos, we kindly ask you to send us recordings of rehearsals instead of concerts, and we also recommend choosing 20th or 21st century repertoire for conducting. Please, send only one link, cut or a link of a playlist with your application. The number of conductors selected by the professors is subject to change. We notify first the selected conductors and all other applicants are invited to join as observers.

Online application submitted through the website of the foundation is obligatory.

www.eotvosmusicfoundation.org

Course program for composers:

At this masterclass we welcome up to 6 composers (this number may change during the selection process) to take part to learn and to consult professors and sit in for rehearsals. We offer consultation with the professors where composers can show their works. These works will only be a subject of consultation and will not be performed. Selection will be made by the professors.

Application material for composers: online application form, curriculum vitae with photo and at least 3 pieces uploaded in pdf. Online application submitted through the website of the foundation is obligatory. www.eotvosmusicfoundation.org

Venue:

Budapest Music Center (1093 Budapest, Mátyás u. 8.) www.bmc.hu

Application deadline: 16 December 2022

Confirmation of the active status will be sent until 22 December 2022.

We kindly ask selected active participants to get back to us right after the confirmation of their status so in any case of change we can select other candidates from the waiting list.

OBSERVER PARTICIPATION

Those who are not selected as active participants, are also welcomed as observers during the masterclass if they wish to. Please indicate the observer option after the confirmation of your status. You can also come only as an observer, please choose this option in the online application form. Concerning the unique program we highly recommend to consider this opportunity as well. Observers can attend all rehearsals, the public meeting and the closing concert.

COURSE FEE

Selected active conductor participants: 800 €

(to be paid until 6 January 2023)

Selected active composers: 300 € (to be paid until 6 January 2023)

Observers: 100 € (to be paid until 31 January 2023)

by bank transfer to the following account:

Peter Eötvös Contemporary Music Foundation

Bank name: K&H Bank Budapest

IBAN: HU76 1020 1006 6019 4912 0000 0000

BIC: OKHBHUHB


Partial attendance gives no right for fee reduction. We accept only bank transfer.

The course fee includes extra programs: during the course all participants receive tickets for jazz concerts in the Opus Jazz Club at the Budapest Music Center and they can attend public meetings and concerts organized by the foundation.

The fee does not include travel, accommodation and meals, participants shall arrange their own accommodation. Upon request, we can help to find private or hotel accommodation within walking distance of the venue. Our hotel partner is Ibis Centrum in Budapest, and we highly recommend their service.

COURSE SCHEDULE (DRAFT)

12 February Registration for participants and concert with Peter Eötvös at Franz Liszt Academy of Music

13 February At-table-consultations about the workshop pieces, mustMEET Composers public meeting with Stefano Gervasoni

14-17 February Rehearsals with Ars Nova ensemble, Peter Eötvös, Gregory Vajda, and Stefano Gervasoni at BMC Concert Hall; private consultations for composers with professors

18 February Dress rehearsal and closing concert at the BMC

The rehearsals will be recorded in part on video and a short professional documentary film will be released online after the course. The concert will be available via live stream, and a conductor-cam recording will be made available for active conductors.

DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES

Active participants will receive diploma, observers will receive attendance certificate, signed by all professors.

SPECIAL THANKS

We are thankful for the support of the Budapest Music Center, Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne, National Cultural Fund Budapest and Ars Nova Ensemble.

APPLIACTION IS CLOSED!