PROGRAMME
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Songs of Travel
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Two Pieces for String Octet op. 11 (string orchestra version)
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH: Chamber Symphony op. 110a
- Conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy
Baritone Shenyang
ABOUT THIS CONCERT
It’s the start of a new era – this October the Mahler Chamber
Orchestra begins a three-year residency at one of the world’s most prestigious
musical events, the Beijing Music Festival.
Three important themes will connect each year of the
residency starting with the work of Gustav Mahler, the orchestra’s namesake, following
BMF’s critically-acclaimed commemorations of the centenary of his death in
2011. Mahler’s considerable influence also presents itself in music by
composers who were active during the 20th century, building a bridge
between his era and our own. Finally, the music of major contemporary Chinese
composers, as well as those active elsewhere, displays the vital creative spirit
that remains a powerful presence across the world today.
For the 2019 edition of the festival, the Mahler Chamber
Orchestra performs two concerts with Vladimir Ashkenazy the distinguished conductor
marking 40 years since his first concerts in China (20 & 23 Oct). The MCO
is also joined by Shenyang, the globally-renowned Chinese baritone (20 Oct),
and virtuoso violinist James Ehnes (23 Oct). This residency concludes with a
concert dedicated to contemporary music from three of China’s most preeminent living
composers: the Grammy-nominated Zhou Tian, the Pulitzer Prize-winner Du Yun,
and Qigang Chen; alongside a work by Dutch composer Michel van der Aa (25 Oct).
With the generous support of Huawei.