Thu, 20. 5. 2027, 19:00 hrs.

B7 Two Faces of Music

Venue: Zlín Congress Centre  |  Organizer: Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinů, o.p.s.  | 

This concert sees the Zlín Philharmonic hosting the young Polish virtuoso violinist Zoja Syguda, winner of the prestigious Concertino Praga International Radio Competition in 2024.

Johannes Brahms, a composer who subjected his work to constant reevaluation, was aware of his own talent but beset by fears of unfulfilled expectations from his audience and close friends, leading him to hold back some of his completed works for a long time before premiering them. But this was not the case with his Violin Concerto written over a few months during a summer stay in Pörtschach, Carinthia, on Lake Wörthersee. Not being a violinist himself, Brahms invited his longstanding friend Joseph Joachim, one of the most celebrated violinists of his time, to collaborate on the piece, with Joachim providing practical advice on the solo part, and valuable feedback that gave Brahms the confidence he needed. The resulting D major concerto is one of the pillars of the violin repertoire which has enjoyed a privileged position on concert stages for almost 150 years.

As a contrast to Brahms's introspective work, the Danish composer Carl Nielsen's incidental music for Adam Oehlenschläger's play Aladdin took inspiration from the oriental themes of the fairy-tale cycle One Thousand and One Nights. This orchestral suite in seven movements is based largely on dance and festive tunes originally intended for scenes depicting the wedding celebrations of Aladdin and Gulnare. The work, which evokes the exotic atmosphere of the Orient and the lively bustle of the markets, quickly gained popularity after its premiere in 1919 and soon established itself as a fully fledged concert piece.

At the podium for this performance is David Švec, currently chief conductor at the South Bohemian Theatre in České Budějovice.