Young violinist inspires in Wehr: Vivaldi's seasons shine live!

Young violinist inspires in Wehr: Vivaldi's seasons shine live!

Last Saturday, a musical event was celebrated in the Wehr town hall that not only touched the hearts of classical music lovers, but also demonstrated the importance of young talent. The 28-year-old violinist Gregor Hänßler, who lives in Schopfheim, appeared as a soloist with the Upper Rhine Symphony Orchestra Lörrach, an ensemble that is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year. Hänßler delivered an impressive performance of Vivaldi's masterpiece, the "Four Seasons", whose dynamic energy and contrasting timbres captivated the audience. The Süddeutsche Zeitung describes how the powerful interpretation by Hänßler and the accompanying musicians caused stormy applause.

The concert, which brought the joy of baroque sound to the stage, was part of a series of summer concerts that took place from June 29th to July 6th, 2025 in Wehr, Kandern and Brombach. Conductor Siping Wang, who took over the orchestral direction, not only highlighted the movement characteristics of the seasons, but also emphasized the importance of offering young musicians like Hänßler a platform. This commitment is no coincidence: The “Four Seasons” is more than just a cycle of violin concertos; They are an impressive portrait of nature that also integrates natural sounds and is accompanied by sonnets, as mein-lernen.at highlights.

Diverse performance and high quality

However, the interpretation of the “Four Seasons” was only the first part of a varied program. After the break, Schubert's Fifth Symphony followed, which was described as a homage to Mozart. Here the orchestra showed an impressive lightness and a lively style that carried the audience away. Helmut Bertelmann, who recited the sonnets to Vivaldi's work, quilted the nature-related images in a wonderful way and made the performance a cultural delight.

Gregor Hänßler, who is currently studying for a master's degree in chamber music in Basel, demonstrated with his virtuoso playing technique and in-depth knowledge of baroque music that he belongs to the top class of young musicians. His own ensemble, the Modulor Quartet, underlines his drive and commitment to music. The symbiosis between the talented violinist, the renowned orchestra and the competent conductor made for an evening that will be remembered.

A tribute to music

The combination of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", which was first performed almost 300 years ago, and Schubert's timeless work welcomed the audience with open arms. With this concert, the Upper Rhine Symphony Orchestra has once again presented itself as timeless and current. The musicians and conductor Siping Wang showed that they can combine both tradition and innovation without losing sight of the original character of the pieces. It is not only a tribute to the music, but also to the vibrant culture in our region.

The next summer concert will take place on July 5th at 7:30 p.m. in the Evangelical Church of Kandern, followed by a final concert on July 6th at 6 p.m. in the Brombach multi-purpose hall. Advance sales for the concert in Brombach are already underway, and it is clear: the tickets will be sold out quickly!