The common path as a musical goal

It is an exciting and appealing starting point for everyone involved: the large symphony orchestra is made up of around 100 expectant amateur musicians of all ages and abilities. On the podium is none other than the renowned conductor Vladimir Jurowski. The common goal of the 90-minute encounter is to rehearse three movements from Dmitri Shostakovich's Suite for Variety Orchestra.

This unique meeting between amateur musicians and star conductors is called an "open rehearsal" and will take place as part of the Berlin Orchestra Meeting at the Landesmusikakademie Berlin at the end of May 2019. In this case, "open" not only means that the rehearsal is open to the public, but also that all interested amateur musicians who have registered to take part in the Berlin State Music Council's orchestra meeting will be admitted. The term "rehearsal" is also to be understood literally, as the orchestral work does not culminate in a concert or a competition audition as is usually the case, but stands on its own.

Vladimir Jurowski doesn't seem to mind, on the contrary. "In this day and age, where everyone only communicates with their screens, making music together is more important than ever," says the Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin before the rehearsal begins. It makes no difference to him whether the music is performed by professional musicians, in amateur formations or - as is usual in the Jurowski family - with relatives. "Amateur musicians are literally 'lovers' of music," he muses. "And that's what this kind of orchestral gathering is all about: coming together, listening to each other, making music together." He doesn't hide the fact that he would have chosen a classical piece rather than a work by his compatriot Shostakovich to work with amateur musicians. But since the wish is there, he accepts the challenge and reveals: "For me, the appeal of this open rehearsal lies primarily in finding a common path from the first performance to the last play-through of the work." What this path would look like and where it would end, well, that too is literally "open".

The first performance of the well-known march from the Suite for Variety Orchestra quickly made it clear that the designated General Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera would not be facing the highest level of perfection. Certain aspects, such as rhythm or intonation, made it clear that the majority of the musicians in the foyer of the Wuhlheide Leisure and Recreation Center in Berlin were amateurs - with the exception of individual string players who belong to the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin.
 

For the participating musicians, it is extremely fascinating to experience the decisive details that the Berlin-based conductor works on briefly but purposefully to bring the work together into a whole: Sometimes Vladimir Jurowski rehearses for several minutes with just the strings, then he asks the trombones to build up individual chords before taking apart individual passages in the alto saxophones or instructing the trumpets on dynamics. He knows how to captivate even those musicians who are not currently playing. Time and again, he intersperses exciting background knowledge about Shostakovich's situation as an "ostracized composer" in the Soviet Union or expresses his tonal objectives in vivid language or stimulating gestures.

While some of the musicians are primarily taking part in the rehearsal to play parts of Shostakovich's Jazz Suite, other orchestral musicians have traveled to Berlin especially to make music under the famous conductor. But as diverse as the demands and intentions of all those involved may seem at the beginning of the rehearsal, in the end everyone in the ad hoc orchestra enthusiastically accepts Vladimir Jurowski's instructions and seems to really enjoy his clear approach and precise rehearsal work.

The final performance of the March, Little Polka and Waltz No. 2 leaves behind a large group of euphoric amateur musicians who, in the hour-long rehearsal under Vladimir Jurowski, have not only traveled an unforgettable path together, but also an unforgettable musical and interpersonal journey.