»Miss Dynamite«

Bursting with energy, vivacious, spontaneous – when Emmanuelle Haïm steps onto the concert platform her enthusiasm and musicality are electrifying. Not for nothing is her nickname “Miss Dynamite”. The French conductor, harpsichordist and organist is regarded as one of the leading interpreters of Baroque music. Her favourite composer? George Frideric Handel, whose works she has often brought along to her guest appearances since her debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker in 2008. Her interpretative approach emphasizes fidelity to the score, but is not dogmatic. Thanks to this style of music-making she has also appeared with such great international orchestras as the Vienna Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. From childhood Emmanuelle Haïm had a strong desire to conduct and later laid the foundations for her phenomenal career as assistant to William Christie and Sir Simon Rattle. During this season she will present three programmes at concerts of the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation.

Once again, Handel

She will conduct two works by Handel with the Berliner Philharmoniker: his famous Fireworks Music, which the composer wrote in 1749 for the celebration of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen), and the cantata Apollo e Dafne, an early work which already demonstrated Handel’s brilliant treatment of the human voice. A suite from Henry Purcell’s semi-opera The Fairy Queen will also be heard. In keeping with historical performance practice, she will conduct the concerts from the harpsichord. As she says in our video, she feels a closer rapport with the musicians there. In her collaboration with the orchestra, she especially appreciates its flexibility. “They respond quickly to the smallest gesture.” Immediately following her appearances with the Berliner Philharmoniker, she will also give a chamber music concert with members of the orchestra and lutenist Thomas Dunford. The programme, featuring instrumental works by Henry Purcell, Marin Marais, Jean-Marie Leclair, George Frideric Handel and Alessandro Stradella, promises to be an exciting exploration of European music of the 18th century. Finally, Emmanuelle Haïm will appear in the Chamber Music Hall in November with her own ensemble, Le Concert d'Astrée, and vocal soloists, presenting sacred vocal works by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville and André Campra.