The Planets by Holst and the Piano Concerto by Grieg

Sat. June 14 202520:15

Conductor Dima Slobodeniuk has had to withdraw for personal reasons. We are happy to announce that Dalia Stasevska will step in for him but with a change of repertoire. As a consequence Alexander Melnikov sadly had to pull out. Alexander Gavrylyuk will join us for this program. Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto will be replaced by Grieg's Piano Concerto. You can still enjoy Holst's grand orchestral work The Planets, an impressive musical translation of our solar system: otherworldly beautiful and a touch mysterious.

The Planets by Holst

When Gustav Holst gazed at our solar system at night, he was inspired to write the grand orchestral work The Planets . It is cosmic, otherworldly beautiful and a touch mysterious. Each movement describes the nature of the planets and their influence on mankind. Venus is 'The Bringer of Peace', Uranus 'The Magician' and Mars 'The Bringer of War'. The music is impressive, captivating and beautiful. For The Planets , the Netherlands Philharmonic joins forces with the National Women's Youth Choir, conducted by László Norbert Nemes.

Grieg's Piano Concerto

Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto is one of the most beloved piano concertos of the Romantic period. Composed in 1868, it is characterised by an impressive opening passage in which the piano challenges the orchestra with powerful chords. The work is steeped in Norwegian folk music influences, especially in the lyrical melodies of the slow second movement and the sparkling rhythms of the finale. Grieg combines virtuosity with emotional depth, making the concerto not only a technical masterpiece but also a passionate expression of Scandinavian Romanticism.

The Piano Concerto features Ukrainian pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk, who won international competitions at a young age and performs as a soloist worldwide. Finnish-Ukrainian conductor Dalia Stasevska is chief conductor in Lahti and principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. She leads leading orchestras with an expressive, energetic style.