Jakub Hrůša, Behzod Abduraimov

Abo B
Bamberg, Konzerthalle, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal
18:00 Uhr

Gorgeous late-romantic soundscapes – featuring works by Josef Suk and Leoš Janáček, who are among Jakub Hrůša’s favourite composers. It is thus a matter of the heart for him to regularly introduce audiences to pieces by these fascinating composers that are still relatively unknown outside the Czech Republic. The captivating »Asrael« Symphony already delivered proof of how well this works – and Josef Suk is also being celebrated this year on the occasion of his 150th birthday with an imposing musical autobiography: the programme includes his tone poem »Zráni«, finished in 1917, revolving around human maturity and elevating love to the core aspiration of our existence. Even the conductor of the premiere was absolutely enthusiastic, as he is said to have kissed the score in front of the concert audience and exclaimed in honour of Smetana’s famous cycle: »A second fatherland!« Janáček’s grandiose work was composed at virtually the same time – the scoring of a story about a Cossack culminating in a marvellous apotheosis. Jakub Hrůša fell in love with this composition, as he explained in an interview: »'Taras Bulba' is at the centre of my musical life. I didn't choose it, it just so happened. It was the first work and I’m still in love with it.« The brilliant »Paganini Rhapsody« by Rachmaninov from 1934 – who once answered the question »What is music?« in his typically poetic language: »That which goes from heart to heart, love.« – is also an emotional companion to the two Bohemian pieces.

Jakub Hrůša Conductor
Behzod Abduraimov Piano

Josef Suk »Zráni« | »Lebensreifen« Symphonische Dichtung op. 34
Sergei Rachmaninow Rhapsodie über ein Thema von Paganini op. 43
Leoš Janáček »Taras Bulba« Rhapsodie für Orchester