Schwankungen am Rand has been filmed by us twice – once conducted by Emilio Pomàrico with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester [Radio Symphony Orchestra] Berlin (Radialsystem Berlin, January 2015), once with Brad Lubman and the Ensemble Modern Orchestra (Frankfurt/Wiesbaden, November 2015). Originating from the detailed partial rehearsal recordings with the Ensemble Modern are three films, each approximately 15 minutes long (winds / strings / thunder sheets, and pianos). These are supplemented by rehearsal scenes with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, in which Helmut Lachenmann explains not only playing techniques, but also such piece-specific issues as the “throw-ins” and the use of the “pack” or “baking parchment paper.” The rehearsals sometimes took place in German, sometimes in English – the German-speaking passages in the films are subtitled in English. The concert recording shows the performance in Berlin, which was particularly convincing due to the spatial arrangement in the radial system.

(Wiebke Pöpel)