Genius plays Beethoven

The works of two outstanding German composers will sound during the October evening with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic. In Ludwig van Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto in G major, Lukas Geniušas — winner of the 2nd prize of the XVI International Chopin Piano Competition — will perform as soloist. The orchestra will be conducted by Robertas Šervenikas, one of the most outstanding Lithuanian conductors of his generation.

Ludwig van Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto in G major is sometimes called “Lark”. This nickname refers to a solo part full of light, artful ornaments reminiscent of the singing of this bird. Although the whole is kept in a cheerful mood, saturated with optimism, the composer included solutions that for his contemporary listeners must have sounded surprisingly innovative. The first link opens with a soft piano solo, presenting the subject even before the orchestra entered — an almost unprecedented procedure at the time. Nineteenth-century commentators, fond of emphatic interpretations, caught sight of the second part of the scene, with Orpheus taming the raging furies. The finale brings an energetic roundabout with a witty character, based on an expressive, rhythmic theme. Interestingly, the piece, which today belongs to Beethoven's most popular piano concertos, did not arouse much interest from critics after its premiere in 1808. He was left in the shadows by the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, which received much more attention. The change in attitude did not occur until three decades later, when the work was rediscovered and hotly promoted by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.

In the second part of the concert, Robertas Šervenikas will conduct Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 3 in E major, commonly known as “The Rhine”. The composer conducted its premiere in Düsseldorf in 1851, shortly after taking up the position of musical director of the group there. Connoisseurs were reserved about the novel orchestration of the work, however, the audience received it with great enthusiasm. This was facilitated by the cheerful, energetic nature of the music and the singing of the themes. Schumann also referred to the native folk tradition, and the echoes of dances and songs present in the score certainly contributed to the warm reception of the work. Interestingly, it was the last completed symphony of the German. However, it was published as the third, hence the commonly used numbering. Although the nickname “Rhine” comes from the author himself, the work is not programmatic. Rather, the term expresses Schumann's fascination with the Rhineland and the atmosphere of the region with which the composer became associated after moving to Düsseldorf.