Last but not least

Date & Time

Mon, Apr 7, 2025, 20:00

Venue

Towards the end of his eventful life as a composer, Dmitri Shostakovich once again sets out to write a symphony, his fifteenth by now. It is bound to be his last, as the seriously ill Russian is fully aware of. Still, his decision stands: »I would like to write a cheerful symphony.« And indeed, his final symphonic endeavour begins with a twinkle in the eye, mischievously orchestrated. But by the second movement, the mood has already changed, and movement by... Read full text

Keywords: Symphony Concert

Info & Ticket (www.guerzenich-orchester.de)

Musicians

Elisabeth Leonskaja	Piano
Gürzenich-Orchester Köln
Eliahu Inbal	Conductor

Program

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E flat major op. 73 (1809)	Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 15 A major op.141	Dmitri Shostakovich

Give feedback

Last update: Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 08:36

Similar events

These events are similar in terms of concept, place, musicians or the program.

Last but not least

Sun, Apr 6, 2025, 11:00

Kölner Philharmonie (Köln)

Elisabeth Leonskaja (Piano), Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Eliahu Inbal (Conductor)

Towards the end of his eventful life as a composer, Dmitri Shostakovich once again sets out to write a symphony, his fifteenth by now. It is bound to be his last, as the seriously ill Russian is fully aware of. Still, his decision stands: »I would like to write a cheerful symphony.« And indeed, his final symphonic endeavour begins with a twinkle in the eye, mischievously orchestrated. But by the second movement, the mood has already changed, and movement by movement, the score turns into what seems like a musical biography. A painful chorale, moments of eerie trembling, and sharp irony – Shostakovich creates a musical review of his own oeuvre and the horrors of his era. His life as an artist is still marked by panic, even though two decades have gone by since Stalin’s death. Thus it is not surprising that Shostakovich’s sense of humour, essential for survival, keeps drifting towards the grotesque and becomes terrifying. At the end, you can almost hear death itself coming towards you, bones rattling. The fifth and last piano concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven also reflects the political turmoil of the era. No tranquility to compose in early 1809. Instead: the sounds of war, gunfire, and Napoleon just outside of Vienna. Even though the first movement is marked by triumphant pathos, the weighty subtitle Emperor describes but a single facet of this extraordinary piano concerto which includes one of the most heavenly and tender slow movements Beethoven ever wrote: A dream sequence, far from this world, a divine melody that Leonard Bernstein later borrowed for his heart-wrenching Somewhere in the West Side Story. Without further ado, and using the effect of surprise he is known for, Beethoven charges into the finale which features a few innovative particularities: a duet for solo piano and timpani, for example, resembling a distant memory of the drums of war. The Gürzenich Orchestra looks forward to this musical adventure, and to two living legends: Eliahu Inbal as conductor, born 1936 in Jerusalem, and the magnificent Elisabeth Leonskaja at the piano.

Info & Ticket (www.guerzenich-orchester.de)

Last but not least

Tue, Apr 8, 2025, 20:00

Kölner Philharmonie (Köln)

Elisabeth Leonskaja (Piano), Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Eliahu Inbal (Conductor)

Towards the end of his eventful life as a composer, Dmitri Shostakovich once again sets out to write a symphony, his fifteenth by now. It is bound to be his last, as the seriously ill Russian is fully aware of. Still, his decision stands: »I would like to write a cheerful symphony.« And indeed, his final symphonic endeavour begins with a twinkle in the eye, mischievously orchestrated. But by the second movement, the mood has already changed, and movement by movement, the score turns into what seems like a musical biography. A painful chorale, moments of eerie trembling, and sharp irony – Shostakovich creates a musical review of his own oeuvre and the horrors of his era. His life as an artist is still marked by panic, even though two decades have gone by since Stalin’s death. Thus it is not surprising that Shostakovich’s sense of humour, essential for survival, keeps drifting towards the grotesque and becomes terrifying. At the end, you can almost hear death itself coming towards you, bones rattling. The fifth and last piano concerto by Ludwig van Beethoven also reflects the political turmoil of the era. No tranquility to compose in early 1809. Instead: the sounds of war, gunfire, and Napoleon just outside of Vienna. Even though the first movement is marked by triumphant pathos, the weighty subtitle Emperor describes but a single facet of this extraordinary piano concerto which includes one of the most heavenly and tender slow movements Beethoven ever wrote: A dream sequence, far from this world, a divine melody that Leonard Bernstein later borrowed for his heart-wrenching Somewhere in the West Side Story. Without further ado, and using the effect of surprise he is known for, Beethoven charges into the finale which features a few innovative particularities: a duet for solo piano and timpani, for example, resembling a distant memory of the drums of war. The Gürzenich Orchestra looks forward to this musical adventure, and to two living legends: Eliahu Inbal as conductor, born 1936 in Jerusalem, and the magnificent Elisabeth Leonskaja at the piano.

Info & Ticket (www.guerzenich-orchester.de)

Mahler's last: the VU Orchestra plays Symphony No. 9

Tue, Jan 21, 2025, 20:15

Het Concertgebouw, Main Hall (Amsterdam)

VU-Orkest, Arjan Tien (Conductor)

The Concertgebouw’s famous Main Hall is one of the best concert halls in the world, well-known for its exceptional acoustics and special atmosphere. In the Main Hall, you will feel history. Here, Gustav Mahler conducted his own compositions, as did Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky. Sergei Rachmaninoff played his own piano concertos in the Main Hall. This is also where musicians such as Leonard Bernstein, Vladimir Horowitz and Yehudi Menuhin gave legendary performances. Right up to now, the Main Hall offers a stage to the world’s best orchestras and musicians. Buy your tickets now and experience the magic of the Main Hall for yourself!

Info (www.concertgebouw.nl)

Sir Simon Rattle and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra with Mozart’s Last Symphonies

Wed, May 15, 2024, 20:00

Philharmonie Berlin, Main Auditorium (Berlin)

Mahler Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Sir Simon Rattle (Conductor)

Mozart’s final three symphonies reveal the composer at the absolute height of his powers, while invoking in listeners the most diverse moods and emotions. Symphony No. 39 encompasses both tension and splendour, No. 40 is full of mystery and drama, while the “Jupiter” echoes with both solemnity and triumph. Simon Rattle and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra share a special affinity for these works, which they approach with verve, transparency and a rich sense of tonal variety.

Info (www.berliner-philharmoniker.de)