Peer Gynt — Miraculous Mandarin | Lin | Symphony Orchestra

Performers: Daye Lin — conductor

Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra

Program: Edvard Grieg — Peer Gynt

Béla Bartók — Miraculous tangerine

Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt and Béli Bartók's Miraculous Mandarin, despite their different character, combine inspiration from folklore, dance and expressive theatricality. Both compositions also brought to symphonic music some of the most recognizable themes of their eras — from the moody Morning, the sensual Dance of Anitra and the dramatic scene In the Cave of the King of the Mountains to the pulsating rhythms and violent expression of the Miraculous Mandarin.

The Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Daye Lin, winner of the 1st prize of the Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition in Frankfurt, performing on the most important stages of Europe, Asia and North America. He has collaborated with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Nürnberger Symphoniker and the Arturo Toscanini Filarmonica, among others.

The music for Henrik Ibsen's drama Peer Gynt is one of Edvard Grieg's most recognizable works. The composer created it in 1875 for the theatrical staging of the story of Peer — a dreamer and an incorrigible adventurer. Over time, Grieg chose the most striking fragments from the extensive score, creating the famous orchestral suites. The audience will hear, among others, the moody Moranek, the dramatic Death of Aza, the dance Dance of Anitra and the famous In the Grotto of the King of the Mountains — a musical picture of growing madness and horror, which today belongs to the most recognizable fragments of classical music.

The second part of the evening will be filled with the Miraculous Mandarin by Béla Bartók, one of the most innovative and shocking works of the early 20th century. Inspired by an expressionist libretto, the ballet tells the story of a mysterious Mandarin embroiled in a world of violence, lust and obsession. Already after its premiere, the work caused a huge scandal - the audience and critics were moved by the brutality of the libretto and the extremely modern musical language of Bartók.

The composer created a score full of violent rhythms, sharp motor skills and unusual orchestral effects. Bartók uses a huge performing apparatus, building music full of tension, brutal energy and almost primordial strength. The rhythm and colors of the orchestra are of particular importance here — pulsating ostinata, aggressive sheet metal inputs and expressive wind instrument parts create one of the most intense musical worlds of the 20th century

CONCERT INFORMANT