Program 16 & 18 April:
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Program 17 April:
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Richard Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde. The opera marks a turning point in Richard Wagner's career: here, his idea of the through-composed music drama is deepened, and the harmonies push the boundaries of traditional musical language. The opera tells the story of the forbidden love between Princess Isolde and the knight Tristan. Through a love potion, they are bound to each other in a passion that cannot be fulfilled in life. The first chord in the in the prelude, the famous Tristan chord, is of great significance in the move away from traditional tonal harmony as it resolves to another dissonant chord, driving the music forward in uninterrupted tension. In the final Liebestod, the drama reaches its climax when Isolde, over Tristan's body, sings of love ascending into the infinite.
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 104 in D major
Often referred to as “London,” Joseph Haydn's last symphony was written in 1795 during a trip to the British capital. By this time, Haydn was an internationally acclaimed composer, and the late London symphonies show him at the height of his creative powers. The work begins with a solemn, slow introduction that transitions into an energetic main theme. The slow movement offers lyrical elegance, while the minuet combines power and folk tones. In the finale, Haydn uses a theme marked by humor and inventiveness, bringing the symphony to an exuberant conclusion.
Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4
In the midst of the turmoil of World War I, Nielsen wrote his fourth symphony, also known as Det uudslukkelige (The Inextinguishable). He himself described the work as an expression of a vitality that cannot be extinguished, even in dark times. The music moves between dramatic outbursts and lyrical, almost still moments. Particularly famous is the finale, where two timpani players stand on either side of the orchestra and lead the symphony to a triumphant conclusion.
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