Status: 11.11.2023, 16:00 PM
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Martin Stadtfeld (hi., standing) created a special moment with Beethoven's "Choral Fantasy". Numerous other musicians and choir singers commemorated Christl Frei, who died a year ago, at the concert. © Buck
At an emotional memorial concert in the Mühlfeld Church in Tölz, the organist and choir director Christl Frei, who died a year ago, was remembered. For the concert, the renowned pianist Martin Stadtfeld, a friend of the Frei family, could be won. Numerous companions had come.
Bad Tölz – It was only 18 months ago that the Tölz family was able to win the pianist Martin Stadtfeld for a Beethoven concert in the Mühlfeld Church. Stadtfeld is one of Germany's most renowned pianists. On Friday, he made another guest appearance in the church, but the occasion and setting were now completely different: The Frei family had invited friends and companions to a memorial concert for Christl Frei, who died a year ago completely unexpectedly and much too early.
The focus of the concert was Ludwig van Beethoven's "Choral Fantasy" from 1808, a very unconventional composition within Beethoven's oeuvre and a rarity in the concert halls: first solo piano improvisation, then piano concerto and finally a cantata. The very catchy, hymn-like choral finale anticipates the famous "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's last symphony. Because of this similarity, the choral fantasy is often called the "Little Ninth".
Christl Frei held Beethoven in high esteem
Christl Frei, who grew up in the adjacent Zantl inn and rendered outstanding services to the musical arrangement of the services in the Mühlfeld Church, was an admirer of Beethoven. If the choral fantasy has been heard now, then the trail leads back to it: almost 40 years ago, a discussion round of the Kunstverein took place in the family's living room about the revival of Tölz's musical life. The idea arose to perform this choral fantasy, which then happened in the Franciscan church.
Christl Frei (deceased 2022) was the honorary organist of the Mühlfeld Church and director of the Mühlfeld choir and orchestra for decades. © arp/A
Star pianist Martin Stadtfeld also took over the conducting, as was the rule in Beethoven's time. He guided the orchestra and choir through the work with flawless articulation, flowing tempos and a slender sound. Astonishingly lively, with a crystal-clear touch and virtuoso touch, he played his solo part on the Bösendorfer grand piano full of verve and warm nobility, entering into an enchanting dialogue with the wonderfully elegant and compact-sounding orchestra. At the end, the powerful large choir took over the melody and rejoiced.
Musical companions commemorate the deceased
This was preceded by works for the horn by Christl Frei's music teacher Simon Zehentbauer, as well as Beethoven's "Die Himmel rühmen" from a poem by Christian Furchtgott Gellert, set to music. Andrea Fessmann had rehearsed this melody for eternity with choir and orchestra. And there was also a terrific Beethoven potpourri by Martin Stadtfeld – "for Christl", as it were – with excerpts from the Pastoral Symphony, the Adagios of Pathétique, the Moonlight Sonata and the Appassionata as well as the hymn-like final movement of the Waldstein Sonata.
On the first anniversary of her mother's death, Gabriele Frei recalled with emotion what she recalled about her lifelong musical work as organist and choirmaster of the Mühlfeld congregation, about her enthusiasm for Beethoven and her strong sense of community. This musical moment of glory in "her" church would also have touched Christl Frei very much. The daughter thanked Martin Stadtfeld as a "friend of the family". (Rainer Bannier)
Memorial service on Sunday, November 12: On the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of choir director Christl Frei, the Mühlfeld Choir invites you to a memorial service in the Mühlfeld Church next Sunday, November 12, at 8:30 a.m. The "Fischbachau Mass" by Kathi Greinsberger, one of Christl Frei's favorite masses, will be sung, as well as works by Hans Berger and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Furthermore, Bibsi Müller and Lore März sing in a duet "I pray to the power of love". The Mühlfeld Choir is looking forward to a lively participation in the memorial service.
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