Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Chief Conductor of the HPO as of 2023, award-winning author, BBC music broadcaster and composer, discuss Dmitri Shostakovich – as well as war, music and the mind.
The discussion will be framed by chamber music interludes chosen by Erkki Suomalainen and performed by HPO musicians.
Chamber music program
Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Quintet part 1 - Prelude
Alexander Glazunov: 5 Novellettes - Interludium
Valentin Silvestrov: Postludium no. 1
Music is refining contradictions into art. Perhaps just one of the many motivations of music, but in the case of Dimitri Shostakovich probably very appropriate to say. ”When a man is in despair, it means he still believes in something”, the composer had said. Art arises between the internal and the external. We do know a good deal about Shostakovich’s estates and we are, to some degree at least, familiar with the adversities amongst which he lived. Nevertheless, most of us barely could set ourselves into his mental landscape. Most of us simply never have experienced the fundamentals of life falling apart; anything you say can and will be held against you. Shostakovich certainly would have had plenty to say. Fortunately he had music. There were many, who were not that fortunate.
Erkki Suomalainen
the Artistic Planner of the Chamber Music Program
Yes, but only before or after the concert. During the concert we just want you to enjoy the music. This way you won’t disturb the musicians or other audience members.
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