Concert piece (7 min) · 2024

Critics

“Leonard Küßner, who was given “carte blanche” by the orchestra for his commissioned work, began the concert with his ten-minute “Elegy for Strings”, a restrained counterpoint. Following in the footsteps of Mascha Kaléko’s farewell poem “Sonet in Moll”, he conceived a solemn monologue. A work that repeatedly intensifies in a wave motion without forcing the tempo. A compact gem for chamber orchestra that holds its own as a poetic prelude alongside the much more opulent compositions of the two old masters.”

(Jürgen Haberer, Mittelbadische Presse / 21.09.2024)

“Everything was just right at the guest performance by the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra in the Oberrheinhalle on Sunday evening. Especially with the world premiere of the string elegy by Offenburg composer Leonard Küßner. […] With justified local patriotism, the world premiere of Leonard Küßner’s “Elegy for Strings”, which began the concert, could be described as the highlight of the evening.
[…]
And how does it sound now, the “Elegy for Strings”, which is inspired by Mascha Kaléko’s poem “Sonnet in Minor”? Küßner himself describes the composition structured by the verses of the poem in pictorial terms – which is not surprising for a composer who focuses on film music. The purely string instrumentation chosen suits Kaléko’s restrained style; the wistful, melancholy, even gloomy text is reflected in the restrained, yet deeply emotional musical themes.
In addition to long melody lines in the violins, six plucking double basses set striking accents. The pauses are succinctly realized, which – although this is not specifically a text setting – follow a breathing gesture. The only point of criticism from the numerous concertgoers who sought a chat with Leonard Küßner afterwards: “Too short!”.”

(Juliana Eiland-Jung, Badische Zeitung / 24.09.2024)

Photos (also Spotlight): Armin Krüger