Contemporary-Conducting Program Master Class with Susanna Mälkki (I/II)

At the prestigious Lucerne Festival Academy’s Contemporary-Conducting Program, talented young conductors hone their craft under the supervision of Baldur Brönnimann, an experienced maestro capable of "a delicate balance of sound planes and a meticulous underlining of each nuance" (ABC Cultura). Their focus here lies on challenging 20th- and 21st-century repertoire, which requires them to sharpen a skillset essential to their artistic and professional development.

On August 30, 2023, Michelle Di Russo and Joseph Sieber take the helm of the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra for an exciting master class centered on Stravinsky's Rite of Spring with internationally renowned conductor Susanna Mälkki, who punctuates the lessons with invaluable pieces of advice, encouraging the conductors to "approach this situation like a rehearsal—it's not a performance… It's like a laboratory."

In this first volume, pianist-conductor Joseph Sieber takes on the daunting task: "The music itself is a little terrifying," he says of the Stravinsky masterwork, "there's not much space for error." His goal, he says, is to be "helpful… and inspiring, and to find a way to share my enthusiasm for the music"—watch to see him rise to the occasion!