The title of Lichtes Spiel might be translated as “Light Game” or “Light Play”, and can be taken as a pun on the German expression “leichtes Spiel”, meaning “an easy job”; or what one might call “Child’s Play”. Rihm has said that he intended it as “a transparent orchestral movement … something light, but not ‘lightweight’”.

The orchestration of Lichtes Spiel is based on that of Mozart’s concertos and it will be performed together with works by Mozart on 14 and 15 June in Würzburg and on 16 June in Fürth. Leo Hussain conducts the Bamberger Symphoniker (Bart Vandenbogaerde, vln).

View the full score and the performance details