Violinist María Dueñas tours the world's concert halls, buoyed by rave reviews, competition wins and standing ovations. Conductor Marek Janowski is one of the great masters of the German musical tradition. He even received an honorary award from German record critics in recognition of his achievements as a gracious orchestra educator and uncompromising champion of quality.
The violin concerto composed by Felix Mendelssohn for his violinist friend Ferdinand David, leader of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra of which Mendelssohn was conductor, got an ecstatic reception at its premiere in 1845 and has remained firmly in the concert repertoire even during the times when the music of Mendelssohn was either politically or aesthetically frowned upon. It is in fact performed so often that the British musicologist Donald Tovey went so far as to say, “I rather envy the enjoyment of anyone who should hear the Mendelssohn concerto for the first time and find that, like Hamlet, it was full of quotations.” Despite being cast in the more or less established mould, the concerto does have some signs of experiment. One is the main theme of the first movement, which is introduced right at the beginning by the soloist and not the orchestra. The concerto is in three movements, the second and third performed without a break.
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.
Only the orchestra has a dress code. You can dress as you like.
You can give the ticket to a friend or donate it to a music student by calling 09-3102 2700 or sending an e-mail to helsinki.philharmonic@hel.fi by 3pm on the day of the concert.
