Grażyna Bacewicz 1909–1969
Concerto for Strings
Sergei Prokofiev 1891–1953
Piano Concerto Nr. 2 in G minor op. 16
Peter Tchaikovsky 1840–1893
Symphony Nr. 5 in E minor op. 64
Behzod Abduraimov piano
Anja Bihlmaier conductor
10am pre-concert talk in main auditorium by Andreas Bomba
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who's music's being performed for the first time in this series of concerts, presented by the conductor Anja Bihlmaier. Grażyna Bacewicz, who was born in Poland, was a violinist, pianist and composer who taught at various conservatoires and wrote stories and books – an all-rounder and important representative of Polish music. Her concerto for strings draws an arc from neo-baroque to neo-classic, but is unmistakably 20th century music.
Prokofiev's 2nd piano concerto is, in contrast, monumental. Its four movements traditional, yet experimental hinting at, more than one could have guessed when it was first performed in 1913, things to come.
Tchaikovsky wasn't thrilled with his 5th symphony, which shares a theme of »Destiny« with Beethoven's 5th. He thought it »too colourful, big, insincere and long«. After the premiere, which he conducted, he immediately made changes, including shortening the finale, making it a great favourite with audiences all over the world.
