Very few of his listeners know him by his real name. Culvermann is better known as Mr. Switch. He earned the name after winning the World DJ Championships three times.
This competition has been around since 1985 when it was first hosted by Discomix Club DMC.
World champion even after “course correction”
For Anthony Culvermann, the genre back then was hip hop. But he soon wanted to try something new as a record publisher. Culvermann met another young music freak in Birmingham, Gabriel. He studied composition at the University of Birmingham in order to later be able to work as a producer for light music.
This Gabriel had a famous grandfather – the composer Sergei Prokofiev. Anthony and Gabriel’s friendship probably made sure that the DJ champion changed his musical course towards classical music. Despite this, he managed to become DMC World Champion for the fourth time in 2014, under his stage name Mr. Switch.
Concerto for turntable and orchestra
Before that, however, Mr. Switch had another surprise win: he became the first DJ ever to perform at the BBC Proms. 2011 as a soloist in a music event for which Gabriel Prokofiev provided the composition.
Since then, Mr. Switch has performed more than 70 times in several countries with his “Concerto for Turntable and Orchestra”. And in Gera on the edge of a rehearsal he admits: “Yes, I really feel honored. There are so many DJs. But it was composed especially for me. I still think it’s great.”
Three performances in Thuringia
Mr. Switch is in demand worldwide for the first time in Thuringia to gast. At the 8th Philharmonic Concert of the Theaters Altenburg On three evenings in June he will be performing Gabriel Prokofiev’s concert in Gera. And it may well be that it scratches the ears of some classic fans.
Scratching is the way DJs have been producing their sound for around 50 years. When scratching, a record is moved rhythmically back and forth by hand with the needle placed on it – this can be read in a DJ encyclopedia on the Internet. Of course, today’s working methods are technically much broader. Mr. Switch shows this at his concerts. They don’t just confront so-called light music with so-called serious music.
Turntables as an instrument of an orchestra
In Prokofiev’s concerto, the turntables are an independent instrument in the Philharmonic Orchestra. Like all other orchestra musicians, the DJ follows the baton of the conductor. And the scratches are really based on notes. And apparently to the mutual delight of general music director Ruben Garzaian and his star guest Mr. Switch.
He also has a lot of praise for the musicians of the Altenburg Gera theater: “They’re great. The sound is right,” says Mr. Switch. And he should know after guest performances in 20 countries.