On January 18, Susanna Mälkki will lead the Danish National Symphony Orchestra in an extraordinary performance featuring two distinct masterpieces. The evening begins with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, a dazzling Romantic-era composition celebrated for its sweeping melodies, virtuosic piano passages, and dramatic orchestration. Pianist Pavel Kolesnikov, known for his exceptional artistry, will join forces with Mälkki and the orchestra, bringing to life this beloved concerto’s emotional depth and expressive brilliance.
Following the Tchaikovsky, the program takes an intriguing turn with Paul Hindemith’s Symphony “Mathis der Maler”. Composed in the 1930s, this symphony is derived from Hindemith’s opera of the same name. Inspired by the life of the German Renaissance painter Matthias Grünewald, “Mathis der Maler” skillfully blends modernist elements with a profound exploration of tonality. Each of the three movements relates to a tableau depicted by Grünewald for the Isenheim Altarpiece, a complex arrangement of panels. The symphony unfolds as a thought-provoking musical narrative, delving into the complexities of artistic creation, making it a fitting counterpart to the Romantic grandeur of Tchaikovsky’s concerto.
There will be a live radio broadcast of the concert on DR P2.
Photo: Eric Kemnitz