The unassailable irony of a free spirit

The yearning for freedom seems greater than ever. Yet our yearning is dwarfed by that of the Soviet regime of yore. Stalin’s dictatorship forced Dmitri Shostakovich to write music that glorified the Soviet state, but Shostakvich had no choice but to weave in his criticism and disgust. From inky despair to dim light and euphoria. All human emotions are reviewed in his Fifth Symphony. With this brilliant and ambiguous orchestral music, Shostakovich dazzled the party bosses and voiced the soul of the oppressed individual. Before the intermission, top violinist Augustin Hadelich will play the world premiere of the Violin Concerto by Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy. An experience not to be missed. Hadelich, named ‘violin king of the century’ by the Sud Deutsche Zeitung, is the perfect soloist for Dennehy’s intense sound worlds.

PROGRAM

Dennehy
Violin concerto world premiere

Shostakovich
Symphony No. 5

Source : Theater aan het Vrijthof Website