Latest news about the Wittgenstein Project at prismatrio.nl (Dutch and English)
Apart from the well-known piano concertos for the left hand, a lot of chamber music has been composed for Paul Wittgenstein, the pianist that left his right arm on the battlefield of the First World War. Much of this chamber music is still in private possession; After elaborate research we have managed to find scores - many of them handwritten - from all remote corners of Wittgenstein’s world. We are surprised how full and rich that music can be with a one-handed piano part while retaining a transparent sound. Many pieces were hardly ever played after Wittgenstein premiered them, and have never been recorded.
We put together various concert programs in which we perform the music and tell the story as well. In our current program From My Hand we zoom in on the Wittgenstein family and on the impact the loss of a hand can have on one’s life. We perform compositions of Paul’s personal friends, mostly works that until 2001 were completely undeservedly gathering dust in Wittgenstein’s library instead of sounding in concerthalls. Imagination enhances the musical content of these concerts. In collaboration with director Ellen Blom and set designer Hans Jeths, the podium changes into Wittgenstein's inner world. The emotional path that Paul Wittgenstein follows as a human being, is reflected in the music. Four Dutch composers will write new work specially for this program.
In addition a series of 5 Paul Wittgenstein Podcasts in coöperation with Lex Bohlmeijer has been published at NPO Klassiek.
Left Hand Legacy Vol.1 - the first of two double albums - has been released by Cobra Records, with works by Franz Schmidt, Josef Labor, Ernest Walker and Hans Gál.
The Wittgenstein Project is generously supported by:
More information? Check this site, write us an email, or keep in touch on Facebook.
By telephone you can reach us at:
+31650278882 (Michiel Weidner)
+31613344717 (Folke Nauta)