03.07.2021 – 23:28
An appreciation, very great, but also a challenge and a great responsibility, at the same time. ”- this is how the Albanian violinist Ervis Gega-Dodi considers the direction of the Bonn Classical Philharmonic in Germany, a task which has been entrusted only to a few days ago.
In a skype connection with the show ‘This Week’ she confessed the emotions and responsibilities for this great achievement in her career.
Violinist Gega-Dodi is thus elected successor to the post of renowned German conductor Heribert Beissel, who founded the Bonn Classical Philharmonic and directed it himself, for over 50 years.
QUESTION: You learned this news a few days ago, what does it mean to be at the helm of the Bonn Classic Philharmonic?
ERVIS DODI: I have been working at the Bonn Classical Philharmonic for 20 years. Since returning from London to Germany in 2001, in addition to teaching one of my constant professions for 20 years, I have also started working at the Bonn Classical Philharmonic. The contact and the desire to always be part of this institution came to me together with the conductor who directed it and who has directed the Bonn Classical Philharmonic for 50 years. He involved me to be both soloist and maestro concert and we have had a very close relationship of 20 years together. Recent years when Mr. Beissel, started not enjoying full health, I got too involved in a lot of managerial issues, and so taking over the running of the Bonn Philharmonic is more or less not a surprise to me.
QUESTION: Although a big challenge, did you expect it as news?
ERVIS DODI: I had been preparing to receive this for several years, and the preparation was done by my conductor himself, as he really wanted me to be his successor in the management of this institution. The Bonn Philharmonic is one of the largest orchestras in Germany with a structure and a platform of 12 concerts every month. It is the only orchestra with such a platform in Germany. The special thing is that 6 months a year he makes tours in the 12 biggest halls, there are halls with 2 thousand spectators. Our Philharmonic has 12 thousand subscribers and we have an agenda of 90 concerts a year. It is a consolidated platform for 30 years, it is also an international academy orchestra. What does this mean? International orchestra academy means that many students or musicians who graduate from German universities do an internship of 1 or 2 years and prepare to start working in various orchestras in Germany. It also offers a platform for various award winners around the world. The platform we offer helps them a lot for their career.
QUESTION: Are there other Albanians in such positions?
ERVIS DODI: I do not know other Albanians in such a leading position, however there are many other Albanians and good instrumentalists who today are in very important orchestras as concertmasters of various orchestras.
QUESTION: Will you leave the scene in the future to focus on managerial direction?
ERVIS DODI: No, absolutely. My life will continue the same. I continue to play concerts as a soloist, not only with my orchestra but also with others, she is my first love. For this my parents sacrificed their lives. The change that will be, I have a team that will work with me for the managerial side of the orchestra. I am concluding contracts with different conductors from all over the world as our orchestra, in the future will be conducted with ‘guest’ conductors, We have six months touring and two of these months I will conduct myself.
QUESTION: What is the extract of your artistic concept?
ERVIS DODI: It will be based on the tradition of our orchestra, which is Viennese classical music, this tradition was created 15 years ago. The only thing that will change is that we will be more innovative, we will preserve the tradition with an innovation. We will open our orchestra, with international conductors.
