IMB Presents:
45th Masterclass and Final Concert in Berlin
A Symphonic Journey – Across Europe in Six Days
Maestro Mark Laycock (Philadelphia Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra)
Berlin Sinfonietta
Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven
November 7th – 12th 2021
Berlin, Germany
For our next masterclass with Maestro Mark Laycock we have arranged our participants a real treat. We are planning to visit four of the cultural capitals of Europe, all in six days of in-depth inquiry into the stylistics of the first Viennese School. We are scheduled to take off from Prague, where Don Giovanni was premiered, continue en route to Paris with Mozart’s incredible “Paris” Symphony was premiered. From there we will visit London the capital of Great Britain where Haydn monumental last symphony, the monumental 104th was composed and premiered, and conclude our musical journey in Vienna, where Beethoven composed and first performed his second Symphony. Our journey will take place in Berlin, the Musical Capital of Europe, organized by IMB, the leading conducting masterclass organization.
It is a unique honor to work again with such an experienced conductor and instructor. Those who already expirienced studying with Maestro Laycock knows that he is a special teacher, with incomparable dedication and with a deep spiritual touch. His teaching style is both encouraging and demanding. An intensive week under his guidance and supervision will surely guarantee enormous results. We are expecting to have a fascinating and very intensive week of rehearsing and studying which will culminate in an exciting
Final Concert. The program for this masterclass speaks for itself. We have chosen one Overture and three symphonies by Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. These orchestral masterpieces present real challenges to every conductor and orchestra. Together with The Berlin Sinfonietta we will face these challenges, musically, stylistically and technically under the guidance and tutoring of Maestro Mark Laycock, an accomplished conductor and instructor with a vast concerts history behind him. As an experienced viola player, Maestro Laycock will present us with the opportunity to study the different techniques and the variety of traditional approaches to the string section of the orchestra as well. We encourage you, conductors at all levels, to join Maestro Laycock, the Berlin Sinfonietta and the IMB team for a great week of amazing music and profound learning in the energetic city of Berlin.
“Thank you so much Maestro Mark Laycock, not only because you are a really great teacher, but above all because you are a very special person, with profound spiritual gifts that have been able to inspire every single element of the class, each according to its own qualities and characteristics, and pushed everyone to give their best.” June 2019
Mark Laycock made his conducting début at age 21 with the Philadelphia
Orchestra, returning to the podium of that great orchestra on several occasions over the ensuing years. He has conducted more than 2,000 works with a
wide array of orchestras and opera companies in Europe and Asia, as
well as in Israel, North America, Central and South America, with orchestras of London, Paris, Berlin, Zurich, Moscow, Kiev, Montréal, Mexico City, Seoul, and Taipei, among others. Maestro Laycock has conducted the English Chamber Orchestra on numerous occasions in London and in the United States, and also appears regularly with the Wiener Kammerorchester, Orquesta Sinfónica Naçional de Costa Rica, and the Georges Enescu Philharmonic in Bucharest.
Along his long career, Maestro Laycock instructed many conductors, instrumentalists, singers and ensembles. Maestro Laycock had the great benefit of receiving “old world” instruction. Instruction that came by way of first-hand knowledge and performance practice of the late 19th Century, where emphasis was on musicality, tone, and color. “These are the fundamentals for musical communication, and without them, no matter how well you play technically, the message behind the music is lost.” Here you can read his extensive biography.
About the masterclass
Here is all you need to know about the masterclass’ objectives, its content, logistics and the general schedule.
Besides intensive active conducting sessions with our professional orchestra, The Berlin Sinfonietta, and the piano sessions with two pianists, each one of the participants will have the chance to work with Maestro Laycock on all the critical aspects of orchestra conducting. Be prepared for an intense week of deep score studying, musical analysis, conducting technique and more. As always we will hold four orchestra rehearsals (4 hours long each) with the dedicated and patient musicians of the Berlin Sinfonietta, where you will be able to try and learn in a superb, non competitive atmosphere. (Here you can see a typical schedule of our masterclasses. A specific schedule will be sent at a later stage)
Location
We are happy to be invited for the first time to hold the masterclass week including all sessions and the Final Concert in the magnificent American Church in the center of Berlin, at Dennewitzplatz 110783 Berlin (U2-Bülowstrasse or S-Bahn/U7 Yorckstrasse). The church has great atmosphere and acustics and regular concerts visitors.
Final Concert
Unlike many others, we insist that ALL of the participants will take part and experience the live performance in the public Final Concert of the masterclass. For us it is the culmination and an integral part of the intensiv week of tutoring and learning. These concerts are advertised and always attract music lovers, and already became a tradition in the city musical landscape.
Video Recordings
All of the conductors will receive a HD video recording of all rehearsals and of the final concert. We also happy to offer the possibility for the conductors to watch their video on the same day of the rehearsal, in order to prepare for the next day’s session*. The recorded sessions (including the final concert) will be given to each participant right after the final concert on an 8 GB USB stick, which they may keep as a souvenir from the week.
Together with the USB stick with all video recordings, each participant, active and passive, will receive an official Certificate of Participation signed by Maestro Laycock.
Participants are welcome to bring their own recording/filming devices.
The course is taught primarily in English and secondarily in German, though speakers of all languages are encouraged to join as well. The orchestra’s musicians, Maestro Laycock and the other conducting colleagues will be able and happy to assist.
LIMITED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS!
Repertoire:
W. A. Mozart
Don Giovanni Overture KV. 527
Symphony No. 31 in D major KV. 297/300a <Paris>
J. Haydn
Symphony No. 104 in D major H. 1/104
L. v. Beethoven
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
Participants are expected to prepare all the repertoire pieces in order to gain the maximum from the masterclass’ week.
*Conductors who wish to review their video on the same day, should bring a device that can play videos (a laptop or a tablet) that have the option to read files from a USB sticks.
Conductors in all stages of their development are welcome to apply here.
For more information, don’t hesitate to email us.
See you in Berlin!
IMB