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© Sima Dehgani -
© Marco Borggreve
Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Joana Mallwitz: Short concert in the early evening
Berlin, Konzerthaus Berlin — Großer Saal
About the Event
In this highly‐anticipated concert, hear the mellifluous sounds of classical music by Antonín Dvořák, Edvard Grieg and Zoltán Kodály at Berlin's treasured and world‐renowned Konzerthaus.
Short and sweet — the new short concerts. Starting at 6:30 pm, without intermission. For those who want a dose of culture right after the workday, without scheduling the evening.
In the tribute event 'Homage to Elisabeth Leonskaja,' the Konzerthausorchester, under the leadership of principal conductor Joana Mallwitz, will showcase music from Bohemia, Norway, and Hungary. Notably, Edvard Grieg once found it challenging to declare his work complete, often remarking, 'I'll leave it like this — finished and good!' This sentiment is evident in his singular piano concerto, which he painstakingly refined even after its public debut. Crafted in 1868 during a Danish sojourn with his bride Nina, Grieg's inspiration was another influential figure: the renowned pianist Clara Schumann. He had been deeply moved by her rendition of her husband Robert's A minor Piano Concerto during his student days in Leipzig, and this admiration shines through his composition. The celebrated Elisabeth Leonskaja will be the Grieg soloist for this event. The musical evening will be punctuated with Antonín Dvořák's folklore‐inspired 'Midday Witch' and Zoltán Kodály's vibrant and richly‐arranged 'Dances from Galánta.'
Program
- Antonín Dvořák – Die Mittagshexe — Sinfonische Dichtung op. 108
- Edvard Grieg – Konzert für Klavier und Orchester a‐Moll op. 16
- Zoltán Kodály – Tänze aus Galanta
Artists
| Conductor: | Joana Mallwitz |
|---|---|
| Piano: | Elisabeth Leonskaja |
Konzerthaus Berlin
The Konzerthaus Berlin is a concert hall situated on the Gendarmenmarkt, the most beautiful square in the city. Built in 1821, the structure initially served as a theater. Severely damaged in the Second World War, it was rebuilt as a concert hall in 1977, with a neoclassical interior, and changed its name to reflect its new function in 1994. Consistently numbered among the top five concert halls in the world, the Konzerthaus hosts around 500 performances every year, ranging from symphony and chamber concerts featuring international stars to new music and children's concerts.
Antonín Dvořák
Antonin Dvorak is considered to be one of the most well-known and prominent Czechs in the world, as his musical work gained international recognition already during his lifetime. He was born in 1841 in a small Czech village into a butcher’s family. At the age of 6, Dvorak started taking violin lessons and it immediately became obvious that the boy had exceptional talent in music. Later in life, he was learning to master piano and organ as well as simultaneously working in a slaughterhouse. After Dvorak turned 16, he was admitted to the Organ School in Prague that trained future professional composers. After graduating, he stayed in Prague, joined Karel Komzak’s orchestra and started actively composing his own music. However, he struggled to make ends meet and always had to work on the side by playing music in churches and giving private music lessons. Finally, 1874 became a turning point in his life when he won a financial grant from an Austrian Prize competition for his 15 submitted works. This allowed him to quit the orchestra and devote himself fully to composing. During this period, he wrote his Slavonic Dances, Moravian Duets and Violin Concerto, which brought him sweeping success. In 1892 he was invited to teach at the New York National Conservatory, where he stayed until 1895 before returning home. He started teaching at the Prague conservatory and later became its director. Until his death in 1904, he had been a successful and well-loved composer, both in his homeland and around the whole world.
Address
Konzerthaus Berlin, Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin, Germany — Google Maps
