October 2008 - New book release “Music before anything else”
October 2007 - The Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra hires Michel Tabachnik as new conductor
November 2007: Michel Tabachnik has a great success for two concerts in Paris
May 2007 - Michel Tabachnik creates its new PIANO CONCERTO
April 2007 - Michel Tabachnik opens the 70th MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO (Florence)
June 2006 - Venice, end of 2005-2006 season
May 2006 - Noord Nederlandssorkest
May 2006 - Another Success for Michel Tabachnik in Paris
January 2005 - Michel Tabachnik : Chief Conductor in the Nederlands
October 2003 - Triumph of Michel Tabachnik in Paris
July 2003 - Great success of Tabachnik in Aspendos for Aïda
March 2003 - Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam
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October 2008 - New book release “Music before anything else”
In "Music before anything else", Tabachnik describes his “ideal concert” with works by Richard Strauss, Bela Bartok, Igor Stravinsky, Xenakis and Boulez. He discusses the personalities of the latter two artists and his friendship with them, as well as the meaning of their musical explorations. He also tells how he ended up in close quarters with the superstar of orchestra conductors, Herbert Von Karajan, highlighting his rigour and exemplary commitment to his art. But this book is more than a remarkably lively souvenir album. Tabachnik is a musician who reflects on his own art. He attempts to respond to the “call to being” inspired by the painter Kandinsky. In his quest, which led him to join a sect, he is still asking questions and trying to live again after 12 years of exclusion and forced silence. The “Letter to Michel” written to him by Régis Debray, in the form of a preface, cleverly positions us as a “well-intentioned ignoramus”. It opens up a dialogue that Tabachnik is ready to join in, and contributes to making this work an introduction to contemporary music, which still suffers from a lack of popularity and is still so misunderstood. A lively introduction to contemporary music by a great conductor.
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
November 2007
Press release for the two concerts of Noord Nederland Orkest conducted in Paris by Michel Tabachnik :
Friday, november 9th : Salle Pleyel
Alexandre Scriabine : L’Acte préalable (création)
Classical musicnetwork Concertonet.com
October 2007: The Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra hires a new conductor
Starting with the 2008-09 season Michel Tabachnik will be the new chief-conductor / artistic director of the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra. This change constitutes a new step in the strengthening of the orchestra's profile. With Michel Tabachnik, the agenda of the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra will be developed substantially. In the near future, the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra will release more details about this new project.
Persbericht:
Vlaams Radio Orkest stelt nieuwe chef-dirigent aan
Het Vlaams Radio Orkest stelt vanaf seizoen 2008-2009 Michel Tabachnik aan als nieuwe chef-dirigent / artistiek directeur. Met deze aanstelling wil het Vlaams Radio Orkest zijn profiel verder versterken. Samen met Michel Tabachnik zal het project Vlaams Radio Orkest op een krachtige manier verder uitgebouwd worden. Op korte termijn zal het Vlaams Radio Orkest meer details over dit project communiceren.
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
May 2007
The 10th and 11th of April 2007, Michel Tabachnik created its new PIANO CONCERTO with the pianist Ralph van Raat and its own orchestra, the Nord Nederlands Orkest.
« Such a powerful and imposing work for piano and orchestra has not been heard since Synaphai from Jannis Xenakis » said the Dutch daily newspaper Trouw.
Michel Tabachnik dedicated this work to Pierre Boulez, as a mark of gratitude and admiration. As much in Groningen as in Drachten, the public received the piece with more than enthousiasm. Here is following the complete article written by Anthony Fiumara in Trouw on May 12th 2007 corroborating this success.
English translation newspaper reviews: Trouw
Concert by N.N.O 10th May 2007
The North Netherlands Orchestra conducted by Michel Tabachnik with soloists Ralph van Raat and Anastasia Goldberg, pianos.
Works by: Wagner, Strawinsky and Tabachnik
The Piano Concerto by Tabachnik is like a fantastic force of nature.
Usually, pianist Ralph van Raat plays everything from memory. The longest program and the most complicated notation do not present the slightest problem to this young virtuoso. That is, until last Thursday in Drachten where he performed the world premiere of the concerto for piano and chamber orchestra by conductor and composer Michel Tabachnik and this time did resort to reading from the score.
Not that this makes any difference, but it does say something about the complexity of Tabachnik’s sophisticatedly composed cosmic storm. As the audience was able to observe, not a moments rest was given to the soloist. Van Raat was busy from beginning to end pounding out the long strands of notes and chords leaping up and down the entire keyboard. The piano concerto was loud, physical and without mercy: not only for the two soloists (Van Raat was doubled by shadow pianist Anastasia Goldberg from behind a large screen) but also for the musicians of the N.N.O. who were responsible for a large part of the tornado, and let’s not forget the enthusiastic audience who were almost thrown against the back wall by the Morse code sounding chords at the end.
Such a powerful and imposing work for piano and orchestra has not been heard since “Synaphai” from Jannis Xenakis.
When asked, Van Raat related that he had practiced long and hard before he had the forces of nature under control .Backstage he showed his hands complete with nail varnish in order to prevent his fingers from being torn to shreds.
Enough about the violence of the piece, for in the hurricane’s dust cloud was an authentic sounding Tabachnik (who also conducted the concert) setting down a fine mesh of themes and calls. The horn parts reminded one of Strawinsky’s “Rite of Spring” (played in the same concert): the archaic clarinet solo somewhere in the middle of the piece reminiscent of Bartok and the brass reared up as in the electrifying music of Edgar Varese.
Tabachnik dedicated his piano concerto to his friend and mentor Pierre Boulez and perhaps the listener will discover some of his influence in the refinement of the work but Tabachnik never sounds distant or “photo model beautiful “. There are no wild and heroic journeys to heaven with pretty little sounds to use the words of Charles Ives.
The N.N.O. also ascended to heaven with Wagner’s Overture and Venusberg music from Tanhauser. Tabachnik knew how to propel the orchestra as a Boeing 747 at take off, reaching out for the clear blue sky above the clouds. Even Strawinsky’s Rite of Spring was flung into the hall with the same potency: burn baby burn!
Anthony Fiumara Translation Jonathan Wallen
Dutch original article
Trouw
Pianoconcert van Tabachnik is als fantastisch natuurgeweld
Noord Nederlands Orkest met Ralph van Raat en Anastasia Goidberg (piano) olv MichelTabachnik op 10mei In De Lawei, Drachten. Werk van Wagner, Tabachnilç Stravinsky. Herhaling: zo 13 mei in Vredenburg, Utrecht om 11.00 uur (alleen Wagner en Stravinsky).
Meestal speelt pianist Ralph van Raat alles uit zijn hoofd. De langste programma’s en de ingewikkeldste noten lijken geen enkel probleem voor de jonge virtuoos. Tot afgelopen donderdagavond in De Lawei in Drachten, waar hij de wereldpremière van het Concert voor piano en kamerorkest van dirigent / componist Michel Tabachnik wel degelijk met de bladmuziek voor zijn neus speelde. Niet dat met of zonder wat uitmaakte, maar het zei wel wat over de complexiteit van Tabachniks uitgecomponeerde kosmische storm: zoals iedere bezoeker kon meemaken gaf Tabachnik de solist geen seconde rust. Van Raat was van begin tot eind bezig om zijn slierten noten en over het toetsenbord springende akkoorde de piano uit te beuken. Want het Pianoconcertwas luid, fysiek en genadeloos: niet alleen voor de twee solisten (Van Raat werd gedubbeld door schaduwpianiste Anastasia Goldberg achter een groot kamerscherm); maar ook voor de orkestmusici van het Noord Nederland Orkest (NNO) die een groot deel van de tornado zelf veroorzaakte; en niet te vergeten voor het enthousiaste publiek, dat bijkans tegen de achterwand van de zaal zat geplakt na de in morsecode gespeelde akkoorden aan het eind. Wat een krachtig en indrukwekkend werk’ Sinds ‘Synaphaï’ van Jannis Xenakis niet meer zo’n intens stuk voor piano en orkest gehoord. Desgevraagd vertelde Van Raat dat hij er lang op heeft gestudeerd voordat hij het natuurgeweld onder controle had. In de wandelgangen toonde hij donderdag zijn hand: gelakte nagels moesten voorkomen dat hij zijn vingers aan gort speelde. Genoeg over het geweld. Binnenin de stofwolken van die orkaan had de authentiek klinkende Tabachnik (die zijn concert zelf dirigeerde) een fijnmazig net aan motieven en signalen neergelegd. De hoornroep deed denken aan de ‘Sacre du printemps’ van Stravinsky (ook op het programma van deze avond); de archaïsche klarinetsolo ergens in het midden klonk naar Bartôk; het koper steigerde als in de elektriserende muziek van Edgar Varèse
Tabachnik droeg het Pianoconcert op aan zijn mentor en vriend Pierre Boulez. Misschien dat je in de verfijndheid nog wat invloed van de laatste kon ontdekken, maar Tabachnik klonk nergens afstandelijk of fotomodellenmooi: je krijgt geen wilde heroïsche rit naar de hemel met pretty litlie sounds, zei de Amerikaanse componist Charles Ives al. De hemel bereikte het Noord Nederlands Orkest ook in de Ouverture en Venusbergmuziek uit Wagners ‘Tannhäuser’. Hier wist Tabachnik het orkest op te stuwen alsof je in een opstijgende Boeing 747 zat, met uitzicht op blauwe lucht boven de wolken. En ook Stravinsky’s ‘Sacre’ werd potent de zaal in geslingerd: burn baby burn!
Anthony Fiumara
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
April 2007
The 24th of April, Michel Tabachnik opens the 70th MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO (Florence).
For the anniversairy of this festival held to be the most important of Italy, the MAGGIO did appeal to the most prestigious artists, such as Ricardo Muti, Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboïm and Mariss Jansons.
At the evening opening, Michel Tabachnik conducted the world first performance of the new opera of Ivan Fedele : ANTIGONE. It was a triumph, as much for the composor as for the conductor and interpreters amoung whom Monica Bacelli has the leading role.
The reviews was unanimous to praise Michel Tabachnik for its performance :
The delicate realization of the score partition of Fedele found in Michel Tabachnik a lucid and pasionnate conductor…
Giuseppe Rossi, Nazione (April the 26th 2007)
Orchestra and choir in great shape, due to the credit of Michel Tabachnik…
Michel-Angelo Zurletti, La Reppubblica, (April the 26th 2007)
Thanks to the superb conducting of Michel Tabachnik an excellent opera is born.
Enrico Girardi, Corriere dela sera, (April the 26th 2007)
Michel Tabachnik conducts with a absolute clarity in the intention the orchestra of a an ample dimension, able to create moments of chamber music intimacy.
La Stampa (April the 29th 2007)
Admirable was the musical realization, thanks to experience and deep limpidity of Michel Tabachnik… Edwin Rosasco, Il Secolo XIX, (April the 26th 2007)
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
June 2006 - Venice
Michel Tabachnik did end his season 2005-2006 conducting a concert with the Orchestra della Fenice (Venice). Once again, the program did testimony of his interest for mixed styles and periods: he began the concert with the 21st Mozart’s Symphony, went on leading the world first performance of a new Luca Mosca’s Cantata, (young Italian composer), Stockhausen’s Formel, finishing with the Schumann 3rd Symphony. Also in Venice, listeners and critic were enthusiast.
Il Gazzetino, 11 June 2006
Il direttore Michel Tabachnik ha anche una diretta esperienza compositiva e si muove molto a suo agio tra le insidie e l’avanguardia. Lo si è notato nella “Formel” di Stockhausen definitiva con analitica precisione e con autorevole disciplina cameristica. Quanto ai brani di repertorio è emerso nell’appassionata, trascinante versione della “Renana” di Schumann. Orchestra vibrante e impagnata…
Mario Messinis
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
May 2006 - Noord Nederlandssorkest
With the musicians of his orchestra, the NNO, Michel Tabachnik conducted the first Dutch performance of the Scriabine’s full Action Préalable. The response of public and critic were unanimous to qualify this performance of exceptional event. The success were enormous.
Volkskrant, 27 May 2006
The NNO Chief-conductor Michel Tabachnik kept Skriabin’s volcanic waving sounds in a really masterly way under control. Nowhere the sound became silted up, the clear pulse could be felt everywhere…
Huib Ramaer
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
May 2006 - Another Success for Michel Tabachnik in Paris
Again, Michel Tabachnik’s concert received a triumphal reception in la Cité de la Musique/Paris. He conducted the musicians of the Flemish Radio Orchestra (Brussels) in one of the kind of eclectic programs in which the Maestro excels: Robert Schumann, Claude Debussy, John Cage et Pierre Boulez. The applauds of the public did not let him leave the stage. He has to play again the first part of Debussy’s Iberia.
Concert repeated in Den Bosch, Netherlands (Strawinsky’Firebird Suite instead Debussy’s Iberia)
Brabants Dagblad, 16-05-2006
The same respect they commended with fuddle-raising performance of Strawinsky’s Firebird Suite. Peacefully Tabachnik set forth his musical views, and in an analytical but experienced way he showed how wonderful Strawinsky’s ballet music is. In the details Tabachnik shows his mastery. The orchestra performed this work with an exceptional passion.
Mark van de Voort
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
January 2005
Press release
"Michel Tabachnik appointed Chief-Conductor in the Nederlands"
We are happy to inform you that Michel Tabachnik has been appointed chief-conductor of the Noord-Nederlands Orkest (NNO). Last January 30th, he conducted the orchestra for a significant concert during the Diaguilev Festival of Groningen, which has also received Saint Petersbourg's Kirov and Amsterdam's Concertgebouw amoung other prestigious orchestras.
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
October 2003
Press release
Great success of Michel Tabachnik in Paris
Such was the comment used by the newspaper Le Matin which continued by remarking upon the vibrant program which Michel Tabachnik conducted at the head of the Prague Philharmonic while on tour at the "Cité de la Musique" of Paris on the 15th of October:
"The audience gave Michel Tabachnik an extended ovation… In spite of a program that could be disconcerting, people had to be turned away at the door".
And France Soir pointed out "his triumphant entrance was greeted by a thunder of applause" and then commented "Michel Tabachnik lets himself be transported by the music. I found him very moving. His interpretation was magnificent".
All of Paris' media and music communities attended, including Pierre Boulez (photo) who warmly congratulated the conductor not least for his program which embodied the eclecticism of a Michel Tabachnik. The Maestro indeed has always liked to juxtapose the repertoires of different periods. The two highlights of the evening were, without a doubt, the Ouverture of Lohengrin by Wagner and Terretektorh by Xenakis.
The daily Libération says "Laurent Bayle, the director of the Cité de la Musique, called upon Michel Tabachnik for his expertise in conducting the music of today. There is no doubt as to his competence. Assistant to Boulez, who he met in Darmstadt in 1961, as well as to Karajan who gave him the opportunity to make his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker at the age of 29, he created 17 works of Xenakis."
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
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July 2003 - Great success of Tabachnik in Aspendos for Aïda
Michel Tabachnik conducts Aïda at the Opera's Festival of Aspendos, near Antalya. He is warmly applauded at the end of the two performances by the 10000 spectators of this antique greco-roman theatre in the South of Turkey.
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
March 2003
The office of Michel Tabachnik
Press Release
We are happy to inform you that Michel Tabachnik has just conducted with great success the prestigious Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. His two concerts included a first Dutch performance, "Nachtstück" of the director of Salzburg Festival, Peter Ruzicka. With the interpretation of Schönberg's romantic "Verklärte Nacht", Michel Tabachnik created a sensation. To quote the Dutch newspaper "Trouw", he showed what astonishing heights this orchestra can reach. Under the hands of Tabachnik, the strings played with marvelous unity and precision, in the tradition that made the Concertbegouw Orchestra famous. The "Haagse Courant"underlines how intensity and beauty were perfectly balanced in the Schönberg performance.
For further information, please contact the office of Michel Tabachnik
