Delicate violin and heavenly melodies

With clear forward movement and contrapuntal chiselled melodies, Britta Byström’s A walk to Brahms sets the tone for the evening’s programme. The piece is part of her series of paraphrases of famous composers. And here it is Brahms with whom the composer enters into dialogue. An imaginative opening to the programme that focuses on Brahms as the great melodist and formalist.

This is followed by the great ordeal, the evening’s main number, Johannes Brahms’ famous Violin Concerto in D major, performed by the Moldovan star violinist Alexandra Conunova. The work is for many a favourite among the great violin concertos. And no wonder, here is everything you could wish for from a solo concerto, warm orchestral colouring, dramatic contrasts and purely heavenly melodic lines. All led with a gentle hand by Greek guest conductor Zoi Tsokanou.

But it doesn’t end there. After the intermission, it’s time for the orchestra to show off, and it will be in one of the world’s perhaps most beloved symphonies, Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World“. With its soft campfire-like simplicity and sonorous grandeur, it forms a pleasant contrast to Brahms’ gut-wrenching violin fireworks.