HCMC – A Night of Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich

Tue 09 Jan 2018, 8 pm
HCMC Opera House

From the organizer:

“Music is a means capable of expressing dark dramatism and pure rapture, suffering and ecstasy, fiery and cold fury, melancholy and wild merriment – and the subtlest nuances and interplay of these feelings which words are powerless to express and which are unattainable in painting and sculpture.” – D. Shostakovich.

January 2018 begins with the Russian greats, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich, respectively with Piano concerto No.1 B-flat minor, op 23 and Symphony 5 in D minor op. 47.

The first work, also the first major success earned by the composer, was originally dedicated to his mentor, Nikolai Rubinstein. After facing heavy criticism, the young composer decided against it and rededicated the work to Hans von Bülow, who played the premiere in Boston in 1875 to overwhelming reception (demanded repeat of the final movement). Tchaikovsky thoroughly revised the piano part in 1889, Nikolai Rubinstein later made it a staple of his repertoire, and the concerto went on to become one of the most popular concertos ever written and performed today. Hans von Bülow remarked in his response to Tchaikovsky: “there is such unsurpassed originality, such nobility, such strength, and there are so many arresting moments throughout this unique conception; there is such a maturity of form, such style—its design and execution, with such consonant harmonies […] In a word, this true gem shall earn you the gratitude of all pianists”. For many, the concerto is the sound of classical music. The piece will be performed by maestro Ho Thi The Van upon her return to Vietnam.

For reference: A performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23 by Argentine pianist Martha Argerich:

Shostakovich’s Symphony 5 in D minor, op. 47, upon its premiere in November 21st, 1937, received an ovation that lasted over half an hour. Composed in 3 months, from April to July 1937, and against the harsh criticism of the Soviet regime and Stalin’s life-threatening displeasure, the work is a bold composition that seems to fly in the face of his critics, dwelling on somber and tragic effects in place of a patriotic program. Widely considered Shostakovich’s masterpiece of the orchestral repertory, poignant and economical in its conception, the piece sees Shostakovich deploys the orchestra sparingly and allows the entire work to grow naturally out of just a few motives, though conservative in the language. Russian writer Alexei Tolstoy likened the symphony to the literary model of the Soviet Bildungsroman describing “the formation of a personality”, of a Soviet personality. The work is indeed a tour de force to be embraced, not only balancing out the evening’s excellent program but also promising an irresistible audience’s reaction. The evening will be conducted by Le Phi Phi with the HBSO Symphony Orchestra.

A performance of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D minor by the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester orchestra under the baton of conductor Philippe Jordan:

Tickets

Admissions: 550.000 – 400.000 – 350.000 – 200.000 – 80.000VND (for students, limited offer)
Booking and delivery: 028 38237419, Ms. Ngoc: 0903604539
At HCMC Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square
Online Booking: www.ticketbox.vn