Featuring:
Elīna BUKŠA (violin)
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Paul MANN
Programme:
Edward ELGAR (1857–1934) Serenade for strings
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913–1976) Violin concerto
Robert SCHUMANN (1810–1856) Symphony No. 2
The collaboration between the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra and British conductor Paul Mann has lasted for ten years, and, under the auspices of the record label 'Toccata,' many works by British composers have been recorded together. The orchestra has recorded many works by British composers such as Derek B. Scott, Mischa Spoliansky, David Hackbridge Johnson, Charles O'Brien, Arnold Griller, and others.
Although collaboration has been close and long-lasting, this will be the first time Paul Mann conducts the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra in a concert — a special musical experience for both the artists and the audience. It is only natural that the audience will be offered the finest music of British composers, complemented by Robert Schumann's uplifting Second Symphony.
Edward Elgar is often considered a quintessential English composer, yet most of his musical influences came not from England but from continental Europe. He felt socially and musically rejected in his homeland. In a musical world dominated by academically educated composers, Elgar was an autodidact.
Although Elgar wished to study in Leipzig, his opportunities were limited — instead, he became an autodidact and entered music as a practitioner. Additionally, his Roman Catholicism was viewed with suspicion in Protestant Britain. Despite these challenges, at the beginning of the 20th century, Elgar became a recognized composer, thanks to compositions such as the orchestral variations "Enigma" and the oratorio "The Dream of Gerontius." Elgar’s patriotic song "Land of Hope and Glory" became widely known and turned into an unofficial anthem of England.
In his later years, the British classicist acknowledged that his early Serenade for Strings, dedicated to his wife on their third wedding anniversary, was his favorite work. The composer was delighted by how “violinistic” it turned out — after all, Elgar was also a violinist.
Benjamin Britten was a central figure in 20th-century British classical music. First gaining attention with his a cappella work "A Boy Was Born" in 1934, he gained international fame with his 1945 opera "Peter Grimes," and over the next 28 years, he composed 14 more operas, becoming one of the leading composers in the genre.
Britten’s Violin Concerto, which we will hear in this concert, is emotionally rich, orchestrally expressive, and structurally unusual. It intertwines the mood of the era's turmoil with the inner world of the violinist – here, Elīna Bukša's sensitive interpretation promises a deeply emotional performance.
The soloist in Britten’s Violin Concerto will be Elīna Bukša, who won the prestigious Grand Music Prize in 2012 for "Debut of the Year" and is also a laureate of the prestigious Windsor International String Competition.
Elīna Bukša debuted with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra at the age of 12, and since then, her career has flourished across Europe, capturing the attention of critics and audiences alike. Her performances are marked by both technical mastery and emotional intensity, which is also highlighted in prestigious 'Gramophone' reviews: “Elīna Bukša deserves praise, as her performance never disappoints. Her interpretation is full of fierce energy and dazzling passages. The violinist carefully and attentively leads the listener to the thrilling conclusion.”
Robert Schumann's Second Symphony is one of the composer’s most significant works, created in 1845 in Leipzig. During the composition of the symphony, Schumann struggled with both physical and mental health issues; however, the uplifting tone of the piece became a testament to inner strength and hope.
The symphony’s world premiere took place on November 5, 1846, in Leipzig, conducted by Felix Mendelssohn.
Schumann’s creativity and social activism served as a necessary bridge from the early Romantic German traditions to the more emotional forms of the late 19th century. His Second Symphony reminds us of the ability to strive for light even in moments of personal darkness.
The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra's concert will be a magnificent fusion of British refinement and German Romanticism, intertwining history, individuality, and the timeless power of music.
The Concert is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the Liepāja City.
INFORMATION FOR OUR VISITORS:
Discounts:
Students, disabled persons, pensioners – 3 euros
Pupils - 50%
Family 3+ card holders - 30%
For a companion of a person with a disability of group I or II - 50%
Groups (10 or more people) – 20%
When purchasing group tickets online, please send an e-mail to sales@lso.lv
When attending the concert, the visitor must present a document certifying their eligibility to a discount.
Useful:
The concert is accessible to people with hearing impairments, as the induction loop function will be activated during it. Based on the experiences of people with hearing impairments when trying this system, the best listening experience is possible in seats in the center parterre area from rows 5 to 12 - from 6 to 28.
