»He is dynamic, energetic and exciting to watch« is how the young conductor Maxim Emelyanychev is described by the British daily newspaper »The Guardian«. Emelyanychev, who recently made his debut with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker, has been conducting since the age of 12. At the 2025 Easter Festival, he will conduct the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in the Choral Concert II with Felix Menselssohn Bartholdy's great oratorio »Elijah« - an interview.
You started conducting at the age of 12. How did that come?
Maxim Emelyanychev: My parents are musicians, so it was very easy for me to enter the world of music. My father was an orchestral musician, my mother a choral singer. From the age of three, I took part in the life of musicians, at concerts and behind the scenes. My father brought us textbooks from the library and I simply learnt music from them.
You recently said in an interview that it is important to »create an atmosphere of peace, calm and happiness for the duration of an evening«. Why is that so important?
Maxim Emelyanychev: For me, music is art when we create all the emotions right now, in this moment. So playing live is an art form. We experience so many impressions around us in everyday life, but in the concert hall it is important to create this harmony and peace - even if only for two hours. All of us together, orchestra, singers and the audience. I think we musicians would be happy if the audience could maintain this feeling outside the concert hall as well.
You have already worked with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, how was it working with them?
Maxim Emelyanychev: The Mahler Chamber Orchestra is a great ensemble and I'm really looking forward to this concert. I have already been able to work on a project with the orchestra - a mixed programme with music by Mozart, Hindemith and Beethoven. I will be trying out a lot and we will be using a mixed range of instruments, modern woodwinds, strings, basses and timpani.
What is so special about Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy?
Maxim Emelyanychev: I like Mendelssohn's approach to music. He started writing music when he was still very young - he was one of the first to return to old music at the beginning of the 19th century. When he performed pieces such as Johann Sebastian Bach's Passions with his orchestra, it was a big deal! And I find this extremely exciting combination in his music: the influence of early music and the romantic »Sturm und Drang« ...
How does conducting an oratorio differ from conducting an opera?
Maxim Emelyanychev: Conducting an oratorio like »Elijah« is not much different to conducting an opera for me - every emotion is in the music, you can always feel the drama between the individual characters.
The theme of the Easter Festival is »Wounds and Wonders« - that fits quite well, doesn't it?
Maxim Emelyanychev: I am sure that you can feel a multitude of emotions when listening to this oratorio. (...) The music allows you to immerse yourself in the depths of human emotion, which Mendelsohn explored in all its facets.
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