Featuring:
Līga BALTĀBOLA (violin)
Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Normunds ŠNĒ
Programme:
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Overture “The Hebrides”
Max BRUCH (1838-1920) “Scottish Fantasy” for violin with orchestra and harp, freely using Scottish folk tunes
Mikalojus Konstantinas ČIURLIONIS (1875-1911) Symphonic poem “Forest”
Franz LISZT (1811-1886) Symphonic poem “Preludes”
In one concert, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra will offer the audience symphonic fantasies and poems of the most brilliant composers of the Romantic era, which will be interspersed with depictions of natural landscapes and philosophical reflections on the emotional world of a human being.
Max Bruch's “Scottish Fantasy” is one of the most brilliant cornerstones of the violin repertoire, and its lyrical, melancholic and heroic intonations will be performed at the concert by the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Līga Baltābola.
Written in 1880, the Fantasy places the violin in the center of the event, combining this virtuoso instrument with the warm and melodic tones of the orchestra and harp. Bruch freely uses a variety of authentic Scottish folk tunes, enduing them with symphonic splendor and emotional intensity. Each part is based on a different Scottish melody having both captivating and melancholic, energetic and dynamic motifs.
The German early Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn also focused on Scottish landscape paintings in his overture “The Hebrides”.
The Hebrides is an archipelago of picturesque islands sheltered from the wind in the west of Scotland, consisting of over 100 islands, about 35 of which are inhabited. These islands are rich not only in nature and dramatic landscapes, but also in history and culture – their inhabitants have preserved their language – Scottish Gaelic – and traditional life values for centuries.
The Hebrides are also an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists and writers, including Felix Mendelssohn, whose overture “The Hebrides” reflects the peculiar and mysterious landscape of these islands.
Images of nature and philosophical and symbolic reflections on the inner world of a human being continue in the symphonic poem “Forest” by the prominent Lithuanian composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. Mr.Čiurlionis has created a powerful musical landscape, where the forest becomes a symbol of power of life, mystery and the unfathomable majesty of nature.
The work is filled with different moods – starting with mysterious, soft timbres of woodwinds and mystical undulations of strings, and ending with growing intensity. This poetic and deeply emotional symphonic poem is also an example of Mr.Čurlionis' artistic perception of the world, where nature, music and visual art merge into an integral whole, revealing his philosophical view of the cycle of life and the role of a human in it.
Franz Liszt's symphonic poem “Preludes” is one of the most brilliant orchestral works of the Romantic era and one of the first examples of the symphonic poem genre. The work is a philosophical reflection on life, its changing nature and man's relationship with fate.
The music flow shifts from soft and lyrical tones to a dramatic and triumphant climax, revealing man's constant struggle with adversity and his unrelenting spirit.
The rich orchestration and dramatic contrasts reflect deep emotional resonance and dynamic tension, which is characteristic of Liszt.
The Concert is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, State Culture Capital Foundation, Liepāja City.
INFORMATION FOR OUR VISITORS:
Discounts:
Pupils, students, disabled persons, pensioners – 3 euros
3+ family card holders – 30%
Teachers, lecturers and medical workers – 20%
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.
