ヘルベルト・ケーゲルの音楽は地獄か天国か？彼の演奏に隠された真実とは
ヘルベルト・ケーゲルは、1920年にドレスデンに生まれ、1990年に自殺したドイツの指揮者・合唱指揮者です。彼は幼い頃から聖十字架合唱団の団員となり、ピアニストを目指していましたが、第二次世界大戦中に負傷して指揮に転向しました。彼は現代音楽の演奏に優れ、その普及に献身的に努力しました。特にオルフの作品に造詣が深く、カルミナ・ブラーナの名演奏で知られています。
彼はライプツィヒ放送合唱団やドレスデン・フィルハーモニー管弦楽団の芸術監督を歴任し、ベートーヴェンの交響曲全集でドイツ・レコード批評家賞を受賞しました。
彼は1979年に初来日し、その後も度々日本で指揮をしました。彼の録音は多数残されており、Capriccioレーベルには彼の全音源を集めたBOXセットがあります。
私は彼の音楽について、許光俊氏が熱心に紹介していたことをきっかけに興味を持ちました。許氏が絶賛するほどのめりこめないでいるのですが、確かに数枚のCDは瞠目させられるユニークな演奏でした。この指揮者は躁と鬱のコントラストの激しい音楽作りをするのに、アンサンブルは完璧なのです。こういう芸風はちょっと珍しいと思います。
彼の演奏の中でも、特に印象に残っているのは、ブリテンの《戦争レクイエム》の録音です。この録音は、彼が自殺するほどなくして行われたもので、彼の芸術的遺言とも言えるものです。旧東独にあって果敢にも前衛作品を擁護したケーゲルが、旧東独の崩壊直後、自らの命を絶ったのは今では謎です。小説家で自ら命を絶つのは数多けれど、指揮者でピストル自殺なんて本当に珍しいのは、おそらくこの職業が人をも恐れぬ鉄面皮でなくてはやっていけないからだと思いますが、ともかくケーゲルはひどい躁鬱だったらしいです。
この録音は、彼の音楽の特徴である躁と鬱のコントラストが強く表現されており、聴く者に強い印象を与えます。演奏は鋭く、厳しいです。怒りに憑かれたようなこの演奏には寒気を感じますが、聴き手を滅多にない音楽体験に浸らせます。目が血走ったような熱狂と、見るものを石に変えてしまうような冷やかさが同居し、こんな演奏が表す心象風景とはいかなる地獄図だったのかと思って、ケーゲルに共感させられてしまいます。キビキビとした声楽パート、しかしヒタヒタと胸を打つ歌わせ方です。声楽を伴った交響作品には見事な手腕を発揮したケーゲル（マーラーやノーノの名演を聴け！）の持ち味と力量が全開した観です。名演の多い同作品ですが、この演奏は「オレは命をかけたんだぜ」とばかりにニラミを利かせます。
しかし正直な話、もの凄い曲であり、演奏であるには違いないのですが、こんな酷薄極まりない演奏を人に薦めていいものかどうかというためらいが消せません。知らないですめば知らない方がその人にとっては幸せかもしれないからです。しかし、指揮者は自分の真剣を押し通すのが芸術です。ここまでやらなければいけないというところまで突き進むのが芸術です。そういった意味であえて紹介させてもらいました。
Herbert Kegel was a German conductor and choral conductor who was born in Dresden in 1920 and committed suicide in 1990. He became a member of the Holy Cross Choir from an early age and aspired to be a pianist, but was injured during World War II and turned to conducting. He excelled at playing contemporary music and was dedicated to its promotion. He is particularly knowledgeable about Orff's works, and is known for his virtuoso performances of Carmina Burana. He has served as artistic director of the Leipzig Radio Choir and the Dresden Philharmonic, and won the German Record Critics Award for his work on Beethoven's complete symphonies. He first came to Japan in 1979, and since then he has conducted many times in Japan. Many of his recordings remain, and the Capriccio label has a box set containing all of his recordings.
I became interested in his music after hearing Mr. Hsu Mitsujun enthusiastically introduce it to me. Although I'm not as engrossed as Mr. Hsu praises it, the performances on several of the CDs were truly eye-opening and unique. This conductor creates music with a strong contrast between mania and depression, and the ensemble is perfect. I think this style of art is a little rare.
Among his performances, one that left a particularly strong impression on me was his recording of Britten's War Requiem. This recording was made before he committed suicide, and can be called his artistic testament. It is now a mystery why Kegel, who bravely defended avant-garde works in the former East Germany, took his own life immediately after the collapse of the former East Germany. There are many novelists who take their own lives, but it's really rare for a conductor to commit suicide with a pistol.I think it's probably because this profession requires a brave person who is not afraid of others, but in any case, Kegel is terrible. Apparently he was manic-depressive.
This recording strongly expresses the contrast between mania and depression that characterizes his music, and leaves a strong impression on the listener. The playing is sharp and demanding. This performance, which seems to be possessed by anger, leaves a chill in the air, but immerses the listener in a rare musical experience. The enthusiasm that makes your eyes go bloodshot and the coldness that turns you into stone coexist, and you can't help but feel sympathy for Kegel, wondering what kind of hell this performance is portraying. . It's a crisp vocal part, but it's a way to sing that hits your heart. Kegel, who has shown great skill in symphonic works accompanied by vocal music (listen to the masterpieces of Mahler and Nono!), is able to display his unique qualities and abilities to the fullest. Although this work has many great performances, this performance makes you feel as if you are risking your life.
However, to be honest, although it is an amazing song and performance, I can't help but hesitate as to whether I should recommend such an extremely poor performance to others. The person may be happier if they don't know about it. However, as a conductor, it is an art to push through your seriousness. His art is to go as far as he thinks he has to go. In that sense, I decided to introduce it to you.