PROGRAMME
GUSTAV MAHLER: Blumine
SERGEI PROKOFIEV: Violin Concerto no. 1
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony no. 9 in E-flat major op. 70
- Conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy
Violin James Ehnes
ABOUT THIS CONCERT
It’s the start of a new era – this October the Mahler Chamber Orchestra begins a three-year residency at one of the world’s most prestigious musical events, the Beijing Music Festival.
Three important themes will connect each year of the residency starting with the work of Gustav Mahler, the orchestra’s namesake, following BMF’s critically-acclaimed commemorations of the centenary of his death in 2011. Mahler’s considerable influence also presents itself in music by composers who were active during the 20th century, building a bridge between his era and our own. Finally, the music of major contemporary Chinese composers, as well as those active elsewhere, displays the vital creative spirit that remains a powerful presence across the world today.
For the 2019 edition of the festival, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra performs two concerts with Vladimir Ashkenazy the distinguished conductor marking 40 years since his first concerts in China (20 & 23 Oct). The MCO is also joined by Shenyang, the globally-renowned Chinese baritone (20 Oct), and virtuoso violinist James Ehnes (23 Oct). This residency concludes with a concert dedicated to contemporary music from three of China’s most preeminent living composers: the Grammy-nominated Zhou Tian, the Pulitzer Prize-winner Du Yun, and Qigang Chen; alongside a work by Dutch composer Michel van der Aa (25 Oct).
With the generous support of Huawei.