“Feeling” and “timing” were the magic words that Werner Pirchner carried over from his time as a jazz musician into his composing for—as he called them—“classical concert artists.” He would have wanted someone like Christian Spitzenstaetter for his music, both as a conductor and as a soloist. Spitzenstaetter masterfully balances the tension between passionate expression and steady rhythm; he is not afraid of intense emotion or profound calm. When he performs Werner Pirchner’s Emigranten-Symphonie with the orchestra KOMP.ART, he allows the audience to experience this work in all its breadth and depth. But also as a soloist, he draws attention to a small, rarely performed piece called “Drei Klare für Klarinette.” From large to small forms, Christian Spitzenstaetter is able to convey the message in Werner’s music.

Elfriede Pirchner