Hans Waege, the festival director, is very honoured by the Queen’s visit. ‘Our festival was already a majestic occasion in 2005 when Valery Gergiev received a knighthood. In the years that followed, Queen Beatrix as well as Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima have been our guests. We see it as an important sign of appreciation when Her Majesty visits our festival again – especially this year when we have a programme of international appeal to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary.’
The 15th annual Rotterdam Philharmonic Gergiev Festival will commemorate the bombardment of the city of Rotterdam seventy years ago. ‘The theme of this festival edition is the post-war reconstruction’, Hans Waege said. ‘The festival’s programme takes the audience on an intriguing journey through time. Misery and grief, but also hope, courage, survival and resurrection are expressed in over thirty concerts ranging from early music to an opera première and from contemporary dance to a family performance.’
Shostakovich Symphony No. 8
The Eighth Symphony (1943) of Dmitri Shostakovich has been given a special place in the programme of the festival. Shostakovich wrote this work after the Battle of Stalingrad which cost the lives of over 100,000 civilians. The survivors saw how their city was left in ruins. Yet the Soviet authorities thought there was every reason for rejoicing because the enemy had been defeated. This called for a triumphant symphony by Comrade Shostakovich, but the composer found himself unable to cheer. His Eighth Symphony became a poignant indictment of the insanity of war. Valery Gergiev has not previously conducted this moving and tragic symphony in Rotterdam.
September 3rd, 2010
8.15pm - 10.30pm | De Doelen, Grand Hall
Shostakovich Symphony No. 8
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev
Tim Hugh violoncello
Tishchenko – First Cello Concerto
Shostakovich – Eighth symphony
The 15th annual Rotterdam Philharmonic Gergiev Festival will commemorate the bombardment of the city of Rotterdam seventy years ago. ‘The theme of this festival edition is the post-war reconstruction’, Hans Waege said. ‘The festival’s programme takes the audience on an intriguing journey through time. Misery and grief, but also hope, courage, survival and resurrection are expressed in over thirty concerts ranging from early music to an opera première and from contemporary dance to a family performance.’
Shostakovich Symphony No. 8
The Eighth Symphony (1943) of Dmitri Shostakovich has been given a special place in the programme of the festival. Shostakovich wrote this work after the Battle of Stalingrad which cost the lives of over 100,000 civilians. The survivors saw how their city was left in ruins. Yet the Soviet authorities thought there was every reason for rejoicing because the enemy had been defeated. This called for a triumphant symphony by Comrade Shostakovich, but the composer found himself unable to cheer. His Eighth Symphony became a poignant indictment of the insanity of war. Valery Gergiev has not previously conducted this moving and tragic symphony in Rotterdam.
September 3rd, 2010
8.15pm - 10.30pm | De Doelen, Grand Hall
Shostakovich Symphony No. 8
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev
Tim Hugh violoncello
Tishchenko – First Cello Concerto
Shostakovich – Eighth symphony
Les dernières actus du Danemark
