Mozart and Strauss

Mozart and Strauss

"The time, it is a peculiar thing," that is perhaps the most well-known line from the opera "Der Rosenkavalier" by Richard Strauss. Perhaps because it is so true and we all occasionally ponder the mysterious passing of time. This can also be seen in this concert, which features excerpts from this opera and from "Die Frau ohne Schatten" on the program. Mozart was certainly ahead of his time when he wrote his famous Symphony No. 201. With it, he freed himself from his "father figure" Joseph Haydn and found his own style. On the other hand, his 26th piano concerto puts us in a festive mood, it is also known as the "Coronation Concerto" and is composed in a very "classical" style, it was meant to uplift the audience during the coronation of Leopold II in 1790.

Beethoven and Strauss

"The Domestic Symphony" - that's exactly what the title "Sinfonia domestica" means, and Richard Strauss delivers on it! There is a striking melody for the wife, an equally memorable one for her husband, and even their child - charmingly played by the oboe d'amore - has their own appearances. And what happens? Essentially, Strauss has composed a musical family soap opera with visits from relatives, the child's crying, arguments between the spouses, and reconciliation including a love scene. Then everyone falls asleep, and when the alarm clock rings at seven in the morning, everything leads to a cheerful family finale. On the other hand, Beethoven's Violin Concerto is a more classical piece, one of the most popular works for this instrument. With the striking timpani motif at the beginning, the delicacy of the second movement, and the hunting theme in the finale, it has become ingrained in the ears of its audience.

Mozart and Dvorák

In Mozart's fifth and final violin concerto, there is a new richness in the musical language compared to the previous ones. Here, the music is majestic and powerful. The soloist is Alva Holm, who in 2022 won Sweden's premier music competition: Solistpriset, the Soloist Prize. The citation stated: "With musical conviction, technical brilliance, and total presence, Alva Holm captivates the audience from the first note."The concert opens with a newly composed work by Tebogo Monnakgotla, one of Sweden's most acclaimed composers in her generation. The new piece is inspired by the natural phenomenon of the spring flood. To conclude Norrköping Symphony Orchestra's guest appearance under the baton of Ola Rudner, we hear Dvorák's life-affirming Eighth Symphony. It is nature-inspired music full of joy and exuberant energy. Swedish Ola Rudner began his career as a violinist and has been internationally active as both a violinist and conductor, notably in Austria.

Mozart and Korngold

Mozart and Korngold are separated by a century and a half, but both fascinated the musical world as prodigies in their time. In his "Sinfonia concertante," Mozart features four wind instruments - oboe, clarinet, horn, and bassoon - playing together and against each other. This sonic diversity creates exciting dialogues between the instruments, as they compete with each other but also harmonize perfectly. The solo parts are performed by wind players from the Dresden Philharmonic. The second work of the evening, Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Symphony in F sharp major, takes us into a completely different world. Korngold, known for his film compositions, creates opulent soundscapes in this symphony, filled with passion and drama. The symphony is full of energy, profound emotions, and a captivating blend of classical musical language and the grand cinematic elements that characterize the composer. The concert is conducted by Eun Sun Kim, known for her precise and passionate conducting, making her debut on the podium of our orchestra.

Mozart and Glazunov

Mieczysław Weinberg's Sinfonietta No. 1 is a work full of lightness and accessibility. However, behind the optimistic sound lies a disturbing story. Composed in 1948, the piece was created in the midst of Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign. Officially celebrated as "bright and optimistic," it met political expectations without betraying Weinberg's progressive composition style. With hints of Jewish folk music, clever variations, and a touch of Shostakovich, it remains a fascinating balancing act between conformity and artistic freedom. Mozart's Piano Concerto KV 466 appears as a contrast, but in its key of D minor, it is also a work full of dramatic depth. Mozart wrote it during a time of personal upheaval and suffering. In a quasi-reconciliatory manner, the concert concludes with Glazunov's "The Seasons," bringing nature to life in vibrant orchestral colors.

Works by Strauss and Berwald

Works by Mozart and Schubert

Works by Mozart and Beethoven

Works by Mozart and Chopin