Mikhail Gurewitsch, founded the dogma chamber orchestra in 2004, while concertmaster of the Baden-Württemberg Chamber Orchestra “I Sedici.” Young, internationally successful musicians come together under the guidance of Mikhail Gurewitsch to combine new interpretations of classical music with modern concert arrangements.
Their presentation does not have an ingratiating, galloping aesthetic with prettydresses and dapper suits, which often gives a false picture of classical music. dogma strives for new ways of rehearsing and performing, as have all musicians in dif- ferent periods of musical history. It unveils the intellectual and emotional content of the music from a modern viewpoint, and conveys this to the audience as a captivating process – that is dogma’s unique style.
The name of the orchestra derives from this way of thinking. It comes from the manifesto “Dogma 95,” which was published by a group of international film directors led by Lars von Trier in 1995. Their manifesto was a protest against the increasingly unrealistic nature of cinema, dominated by effect and technical sophistication, and fought against its dramatic predictability.
The orchestra sees itself as a homogenous group of musicians sharing the same musical ideas, but also as an ensemble of interacting soloists. Members are encouraged to express their own personalities. The tension between solo impulse and ensemble spirit comes to play. The result is an artistic harvesting. This dynamic is intensified further in that the orchestra plays standing.
The dogma chamber orchestra values diversity in its programming. The repertoire includes not only baroque, classical, and romantic music but also the work of contemporary composers, as well as dogma’s own compositions.
dogma interacts with the audience. Mikhail Gurewitsch guides and speaks to the public throughout the concert. He bridges the distance between stage and audience. He encourages concertgoers not only to “observe” from the outside and to “consume,” but to appreciate the musical experience as a dialogue, which often continues between musicians and audience following the concert.
The orchestra, in the years of its existence, has developed a continuingly growing network of fans and developed into one of the best known young european chamber music ensembles. For their CD, “The Shostakovich Album,” the dogma chamber orchestra received, already for the second time, the prestigious ECHO Klassik Award. For their live recording, “Mozart/Schubert Symphonies,” they won the OPUS Klassik Award in 2019.
