RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra - Kromatika 8

Soloist: Federico Colli, piano

Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 5
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Béla Bartók, Concerto for Orchestra

Although the great Beethoven is usually remembered primarily as the most influential symphonist of the transition from Classicism to Romanticism, which marked the entire orchestral output of the nineteenth century, we should not forget his indispensable contribution to the piano repertoire, encompassing thirty-two sonatas, more than twenty bagatelles and variations, and six piano concertos. The fifth and last completed concerto, the so-called Emperor, is imbued with a heroic, almost military charter, which probably accounts for its title. The solo part in this extremely long and demanding, but extraordinarily charming work will be performed by the young Italian virtuoso Federico Colli, who gained access to the world’s most prestigious concert stages after his victories at the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg (2011) and the Leeds International Piano Competition (2012). Colli studied at the Milan Conservatory, the Salzburg Mozarteum and the International Piano Academy in Imola. He nurtures a wide repertoire, which includes the music of the Baroque and Classicism. His second album of recordings of Scarlatti sonatas was selected by Classical Music – BBC Music Magazine as one of the best albums of 2020.

In the era of Classicism and Romanticism, the orchestra often remained in the shade of bravura soloists. Béla Bartók, one of the most original composers of the twentieth century, attempted to remedy this “historical injustice” with his Concerto for Orchestra. As the title suggests, it is a work in which the entire orchestra is displayed as a soloist, with each orchestral instrument being assigned a particularly demanding and interesting role. Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra therefore boasts an extremely multi-layered texture and full sound, as well as richly diverse musical content. Since its premiere performance in Boston in 1944, it has established itself as one of the most popular works with which symphony orchestras around the world like to demonstrate their technical and artistic perfection. On this occasion, our chief conductor Rossen Milanov will lead us through the challenges of the masterpieces by Bartók and Beethoven.

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