Recorder31 Day 10 | Side-By-Side Interview: Stefan Temmingh & Mathis Wolfer

In the second of this year's Side-By-Side Interviews, we revisit the topic of recorder education in a fascinating and inspiring chat between a teacher and their former student. Recorded exclusively for Recorder31, the Side-By-Side Interviews continue to include some of the most creative and influential figures in today's recorder scene.

This week, Stefan Temmingh and Mathis Wolfer share a conversation touching on Mathis' experience studying with Stefan in Freiburg, their reflections on their experience of playing the recorder and changes to the scene, and Mathis' dislike of chocolate...

In a first for the Side-By-Side Interviews, Stefan and Mathis were able to record the interview in person!

Listen here:

About the artists

Stefan Temmingh, a South African recorder player, is one of the internationally leading soloists in his field. German radio SWR Kultur describes him as ‘one of the great recorder virtuosos of our time’. In 2022, he received the prestigious German OPUS Klassik Award for his CD Leipzig 1723 in the category ‘Concerto Recording of the Year’. Born in Cape Town, he now lives in Munich and Freiburg. As a specialist in Early Music, he performs worldwide with his ensemble at renowned festivals and concert series. As a soloist, he collaborates with various baroque, chamber, and symphony orchestras across Europe, Asia, and Africa, increasingly conducting from the soloist’s desk. He initiates and performs numerous projects and world premieres of contemporary music. Since 2019, he has been a teacher at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg and from 2025 will also teach at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague. www.stefantemmingh.com

Recorder player and harpsichordist Mathis Wolfer performs in Germany and abroad and has appeared with various ensembles at Bachfest Leipzig, Grafenegg Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival and many more. He has performed as a soloist with ensembles such as the Capricornus Consort Basel, La Risonanza Barockorchester and the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra. He has won prizes at national and international competitions, including the La Risonanza EMSA Award and first prizes at the Open Recorder Days Amsterdam as well as the second prize at the prestigious Moeck/SRP Solo Recorder Competition. Enthusiastic about both early and contemporary music, he regularly performs with various chamber music ensembles, such as ensemble feuervogel and Apollos Cabinet. He is equally passionate about historically informed performance practice as about collaborating with composers and premiering contemporary works. www.mathiswolfer.com

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