Concerts for the 21st Century

Written By Thomas Pfanner

How can we create classical concert experiences that truly resonate with our audiences? Hans-Joachim Gögl and Folkert Uhde, the artistic leaders of Montforter Zwischentöne, considered this question, which framed my approach to concert design and production. They viewed each concert as a complex, organic process influenced by a multitude of factors.

It was my honour to be the producer of Montforter Zwischentöne for four years. During that time, I organized innovative concerts that pushed the boundaries of traditional classical music presentations. These included performances in total darkness, concerts that integrated non-artists and experts from diverse fields, and events staged in unusual locations, such as swimming pools, car houses or court rooms.

Above all, Montforter Zwischentöne’s focus was on creating concerts that forged a deep connection with the lives of our audiences. By aligning the music with their experiences and emotions, these concerts became more than just performances—they became shared moments of resonance.

Photos (TBLR): Matthias Rhomberg, Matthias Rhomberg, Lisa Mathis, Matthias Dietrich, Victor Marin Roman, Matthias Rhomberg, Patricia Keckeis, Patricia Keckeis

Selected Productions

  • Mörderseelen. Trialog between author, psychiatrist and drummer. 17.11.2016, Old Swimming Pool Feldkirch.

  • Concert for End-of-Life-Caregivers and Cello. 18.11.2016, Conservatory of Vorarlberg.

  • Morning Concert. Music and Poetry at Sunrise. 19.11.2016, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Händels’ Messiah. Concerto Stella Matutina and Chamber Choir Feldkirch. 19.11.2016, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Wish Concert. The Audience decides. Atrium String Quartet. 24.02.2017, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Anniversary of Vorarlberg’s Conservatory. 40 performances, all at once. 25.02.20217, Conservatory of Vorarlberg.

  • Marching in the wrong direction. A concert about the hardship of deciding with the Windwerk – The Central Alps Windmusic Project. 26.02.2017, Montforthaus Feldkirch

  • Vision Rhinecity. A lawsuit on merging 29 municipalities into one city. 29.06.2017, Conservatory of Vorarlberg.

  • Morning Concert. Music Poetry at Sunrise. 30.06.2018, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. Concerto Stella Matutina. 30.06.2018, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Concert Walk through the Old Town. Rimski-Korsakow’s Scheherezade as Grand Final. Symponic Orchestra Vorarlberg. 01.07.2018, Old Town of Feldkirch and Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • The Fairy Queen for Children. 02.07.2018, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Franz Schuh orders a library. Improvisations on finished and unfinished masterworks. 04.11.2018, Pop-up-Stage in the Old Town’s Gym Hall.

  • Schubert’s String Quintet in C-Major. 17.11.2017, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • John Dowland’s Lachrimae. Hathor Consort. 18.11.2017, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Morning Concert. Music and Poetry at Sunrise. 22.02.2018, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Lights Out. Concert in Total Darkness for String Trio and Urban Visionaries. 25.02.2018, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Allegory of Desire. Ghalia Benali, Zefiro Torna and Vocalconsort Berlin. 29.06.2018, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • The Day After. Concert about Guilt and Repentance. Symphonic Orchestra Vorarlberg, Chamber Choir Feldkirch, Vocalconsort Berlin. 30.06.2018, Montforthaus Feldkrich.

  • Silent Stories. Concert for 7 Photographers and Jazz-Trio. Pop-up Stage in the Conservatory of Vorarlberg, 08.11.2018

  • Out of the Blue. Concert for Illustrator and the STEGREIF.orchester Berlin. 10.11.2018, Pop-up Stage in the Conservatory of Vorarlberg.

  • Bach’s The Art of Fugue. SIGNUM Saxophone Quartet. 16.11.2019, Cathedral Feldkirch.

  • Silent Confrontation. Dance performance with laborgras. 17.11.2018, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Turning the Void. Improvisations with David Helbock, a Ceramicist and Woodcarver. 18.11.2018, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion. Concerto Stella Matutina and Chamber Choir Feldkirch. 09.03.2019, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Morning Concert. Music and Poetry at Sunrise. 27.06.2019, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Zwischentöne-Open. A Summerfest for the City. 29.06.2019, Old Town of Feldkirch.

  • Tobu. Trio for Three Masters and their Former Students. 21.11.2019, Old Swimming Pool Feldkirch.

  • Organ Duel. Lázló Fassang and Martin Sturm compete. 22.11.2019, St. Martin’s Church Dornbirn and 23.11.2019, Cathedral Feldkirch.

  • Advent Concert. Concerto Cologne and Martina Gedeck. 10.12.2019, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Morning Concert. Music and Poetry at Sunrise. 14.02.2020, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Bach-Meditations. 22.02.2020, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

  • Three Funerals: Certainty, Privacy and Idleness. Vienna Reed Quintet with the Philosophers Alice Lagaay, Peter Schaar and Thomas Macho. 26.-28.2.2020, Old Swimming Pool Feldkirch.

  • Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. Concerto Stella Matutina. 29.02.2020, Montforthaus Feldkirch.

Concert Design: Hans-Joachim Gögl and Folkert Uhde
Production: Tom Pfanner

Thomas Pfanner
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