Is modern classical music “ugly”? Why does contemporary classical music often feel challenging—and is it worth the effort to listen?

In this episode, Jens and Joe dive into the world of modern classical music through Aribert Reimann, one of the most distinctive contemporary composers. Using his re-scoring of Mendelssohn’s Songs for String Quartet as a starting point, they explore how classical masterpieces are reimagined today, and what this means for listeners navigating “difficult” or avant-garde repertoire.

From questions of musical taste to the value of engaging with unfamiliar sounds, this conversation offers insight into why contemporary classical music matters—and how to approach it with open ears.

Chapters

0:22 Introduction
1:07 A modern clothing for Mendelssohn
3:58 Why listen to modern music?
6:06 "...or does it mean death?" (1996) (1)
7:52 Recomposing Classical Masters
10:18 The Award disaster
12:09 It's all a question of taste
21:32 "...or does it mean death?" (2)
22:23 Do I have to like that?
25:47 Ollea (2006)
28:58 Cantus (2005) – Conclusion

Featured Recordings

💿 C71090 Aribert Reimann – "...or does it mean death?"
Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C71090!Podcast

💿 C5020 Aribert Reimann – Cantus / Ollea / Arietta
Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C5020!Podcast

Featured Artists

Christine Schäfer
Petersen Quartett
Mojca Erdmann: https://www.mojcaerdmann.com/
Jörg Widmann: https://www.joergwidmann.com/

Recommend Persons

Aribert Reimann
Luciano Berio
Béla Bartók
Mark Rothko
Jackson Pollock

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapriccioRecords
Facebook: facebook.com/capricciorecords/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capricciorec/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CapriccioRec
Website: http://capriccio.at/