Keywords: Subscription Concert, Symphony Concert
| Jérémie Rhorer | Conductor |
| Francesco Piemontesi | Piano |
| ›Metamorphosen‹ for 23 solo strings | Richard Strauss |
| Concerto for piano and orchestra in G major | Maurice Ravel |
| Symphony No. 4 in F minor op. 36 | Piotr Tchaikovsky |
These events are similar in terms of concept, place, musicians or the program.
Reportedly, for many years, Alexander von Schlippenbach was considered the only European able to play Monk’s Off Minor properly. An exquisite proof of how well the German free jazz legend felt Monk was the album Monk’s Casino, probably the first instance in history, in which all, nearly seventy, of Monk’s compositions were recorded together. The ensemble, made up of great personalities of European improvised music, such as Axel Dörner and Rudi Mahall – whose personal attitudes to Monk are no less interesting – proved perfect and has now been performing together for twenty years. The group’s formula has not burnt out, as the last thing to be expected from Schlippenbach is an orthodox approach to originals. Nevertheless, there is respect and love for the music by the composer of Epistrophy to be found in every sound of those, very personal, interpretations. Tomasz Gregorczyk Concert duration: approximately 90 minutes
Schubert’s unstoppable Ninth Symphony is known as ‘the Great’ – and with Vladimir Jurowski bringing all his insight and imagination, you’ll hear why. For Vilde Frang, ‘music is the noblest form of communication, a constant interaction’ – and that generous philosophy, combined with her luminous, deeply expressive sound, has made this remarkable Norwegian violinist a real favourite with British audiences. Tonight, she explores the special poetry of Schumann’s only violin concerto: the tender heart of a concert that begins with Beethoven’s drama-fuelled Coriolan Overture, and ends with the wide-open spaces and pure, sunlit energy of Schubert’s unstoppable Ninth Symphony. It’s known as ‘the Great’ – and with LPO Conductor Emeritus Vladimir Jurowski bringing all his insight and imagination, you’ll hear why. *Please note change of programme from originally advertised.
Supporting the »wir helfen« (we help) campaign by the newspaper Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger is more than just a tradition upheld by the Gürzenich Orchestra – it is of heartfelt importance. This season, contributing to the initiative for underprivileged children and adolescents in the region, the orchestra will play a passionate concert full of deep emotions. Before giving birth to his second concerto for piano and orchestra, with its endless melodies and sweeping, intense drama, Sergei Rachmaninoff had to fight his way through a deep valley of depression and self-doubt. In the end, hypno-therapy is what helped the Russian composer dissolve his writer’s block. Against all expectations, the concerto was a great success: It offers everything ranging from chamber musical intimacy to symphonic opulence, and demands everything from the soloist, emotionally and technically. No problem for the 24-year-old Russian pianist Alexander Malofeev, a sensational shooting star who has won countless prizes and travels the world. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky described his last symphony, the »Pathétique,« as his best work, as being dear to his heart. He claimed to have put »all his soul« into it. The fact that he died just a few days after the premiere amplifies the impression of someone who condenses all facets of his artistic identity and symphonic oeuvre, and puts them to paper. Yet the musical approach he chooses is absolutely surprising. One would think he might bring his last symphony to a rejoicing and triumphant end, an emphatic summary of his own highly successful career. Instead, Tchaikovsky chooses a melancholy, introspective ending – not so much a real finale as a touching farewell with many open questions, a musical »good bye« which, still today, goes straight to the heart.
Enjoy symphony concerts with a view of the starry sky in the Zeiss Grand Planetarium – heavenly sounds in the truest sense of the word.
ConcertPulse