“His technically brilliant and musically unusually impressive playing had the listeners in awe. Bravos echoed as the artist was repeatedly called forth.” (Uusi Suometar, 28.2.1911) When the HPO performed Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto for the first time, the composer himself was the soloist. Now it is performed by Roman Borisov, who has a long list of competition wins in his pocket for good reason.
The thing that distinguishes Antonín Dvořák (1841–1903) from previous symphonists is his ability to weave national elements into works in the Germanic style. In his 7th Symphony, he nevertheless sought to break away from associations with his native Bohemia and his ‘local hero’ aura, and went so far as to adopt a more Germanic form, Anton, of his name under pressure from his publisher. But the 8th Symphony, composed four years after the 7th, has none of the dramatic despair of its predecessor. Instead, it is a work of country dance-like melodies and reverence for the sounds of nature. It spreads a positive, carefree message using Slavic themes in which even the minor keys at times sound jubilant. “Melodies simply pour out of me,” he wrote.
The first movement begins with a sort of minor-key introduction complete with birdsong before switching to the major. Minor and major alternate even more smoothly in the pastoral Adagio. The melancholy Scherzo waltz is one of the most beautiful ever composed by Dvořák. Of the finale, Czech conductor Rafael Kubelik once said in a rehearsal: “Gentlemen, in Bohemia the trumpets never call to battle – they always call to the dance!”
Roman Borisov (born 2002) is a Russian pianist residing and studying in Berlin, where he began his studies at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin with Professor Eldar Nebolsin in 2022. Introduced to the legendary piano teacher Mary Lebenzon at the Novosibirsk Conservatory at the age of four, Borisov studied with her until 2020.
Borisov's 2024–2025 season includes his debut with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, performances with the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, a tour with the Kammerakademie Potsdam, and recitals at the Concertgebouw, Flagey, Wigmore Hall, the Verbier Festival, and the Ruhr Piano Festival.
In 2022, Roman Borisov won the First Prize at the international competition for young pianists, the Kissinger KlavierOlymp. In its statement, the jury wrote: ‘…with his highly musical, intuitive and structure-conscious interpretations of works by Liebermann, Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Brahms and Prokofiev, he demonstrated absolute creative will and impressed with his natural and consistent stage presence’.
Ariane Matiakh (born 1980) is a French conductor, currently serving her third concert season as Principal Conductor of the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen in Germany. Matiakh’s repertoire spans ballets, operas, and symphonic works, ranging from Baroque music to contemporary compositions.
This season, Matiakh conducts the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time, and also debuts with the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. On the opera stage, the 2024–2025 season sees Matiakh make her debut at Deutsche Oper Berlin and at La Monnaie in Brussels. She first appeared as a guest-conductor at the the BBC Proms, the world’s largest classical music festival, in 2022.
Matiakh studied conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna under Leopold Hager and Yuji Yuasa, furthering her studies through masterclasses with Seiji Ozawa.
In recognition of her achievements, Ariane Matiakh has been named Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France.
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.
