ConcertPulse
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Alexej Gerassimez / Edward Gardner
Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)
Percussion as a solo instrument is still a newcomer to the traditional classical repertoire – and at the same time it is a cosmos entirely its own, shimmering in a thousand colours. The young musician Alexej Gerassimez from Essen, Germany, brings this cosmos impressively to life. The award-winning percussionist is a true all-rounder, switching genres effortlessly with an equal command of jazz grooves and of the complex rhythms of contemporary music. A perfect candidate for Finnish composer Kalevi Aho’s sparkling percussion concerto, which was first performed in 2012. Aho called the work »Sieidi«, the Sami word for a sacred rock or mountain. After the interval, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra climbs an orchestral summit in the shape of Dvořák’s »New World« Symphony. Since its New York premiere in 1893, the composer’s Ninth has been an absolute audience favourite.
