IMB Presents: The 53rd Masterclass and Final Concert in Berlin:
Purely Beethoven 2023
Maestro Lior Shambadal Back with IMB!
1st, 4th, and 5th Symphonies
Maestro Lior Shambadal (IMB, Berliner Symphoniker)
Berlin Sinfonietta
L. van Beethoven
November 20th – 25th
Berlin, Germany
We are happy to invite aspiring conductors to join our annual “Purely Beethoven” masterclass that will take place in November 2023. “Purely Beethoven” masterclasses, a tradition of IMB, is dedicated exclusively to Beethoven’s Symphonies and gives a superb opportunity to dive deep and give conductors a week-long workshop to explore these timeless masterpieces.
We are very excited to join forces again with IMB friend and long time collaborator, Maestro Lior Shambadal. Maestro Lior Shambadal is a very experienced conductor and a very important teacher. Former Chief Conductor at Berliner Symphoniker, Maestro Shambadal, born in 1950, is a very sought after conductor with a long international career as an opera and concerts conductor. As a teacher he gives several masterclasses for conductors each year. In this masterclass we will have the opportunity to work closely with Maestro Shambadal and the Berlin Sinfonietta on three symphonies by Beethoven, the 1st, 4th and 5th,
With us you are in the best hands! Here are just few of feedbacks we have received after our latest masterclasses in 2022:
“Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful masterclass! You know exactly everything that we as conductors need in order to learn and grow. That is one of the things that separate this masterclass from the others.”
“What an incredible gift of art and inspiration you’ve provided for growing artist. Thank you for all that do, and congratulations for the 50th masterclass.”
“The International Masterclasses Berlin was a transformative experience for me. It was the perfect balance between podium time, group discussion, and one-on-one consultations. I not only grew as a conductor, but as a musician and as a person after this masterclass. Strongly recommend!”
“It was an amazing week. Thank you and congrats for all the spectacular organization.”
“Thank you much again for the beautiful organization and atmosphere of this past week. It has been a beautiful experience for me!”
“Thank you so much for all your work and effort for the workshop! These few days were full of inspiration and joy. And many thanks to the orchestra who has given us a great amount of patience and support!”
“Thanks again for all you do to ensure a good masterclass experience.”
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 Shambadal 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 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 the schedule of the masterclasses.)
Location
St. Lukas Church – Bernburger Str. 3-5, 10963 Berlin
View on Google maps
For this masterclass we are happy to be invited to hold the masterclass week including the final concert in the very intimate St. Lukas Church, in the center of Berlin, (Bernburger Str. 3-5, 10963). The church has great atmosphere and its own regular concert visitors. We are thankful that the masterclass’ final concert was inserted to the church’s concert season programs, and expecting many audiences. (image: Berlin Sinfonietta, soloists and the English Choir Berlin performing Mozart’s Requiem in the final concert of our Choral Masterclass in 2017)
Video Recordings
All of the conductors will receive a high quality in 4K 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 a high quality SD-Card, which they may keep as a souvenir from the week.
Together with the SD-Card with all video recordings, each participant, active and passive, will receive an official Certificate of Participation signed by Maestro Shambadal.
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 Shambadal and the other conducting colleagues will be able and happy to assist.
LIMITED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS!
Repertoire:
L. v. Beethoven
Symphony No. 1 in C major Op. 21
Symphony No. 4 in B♭ major Op. 60
Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op. 67
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 SD-Cards
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
Photo credit Shambadal: Mariam Ghazanchyan Photography