CONCERT PROGRAMME
J. Sibelius. Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
A. Dvořák. Symphony No. 9 in E minor ("From the New World"), Op. 95
Violinist Alena Baeva was noticed by world-famous stars of classical music when she was still studying at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. In addition to her formal studies, A. Baeva studied in France in 2003 at the invitation of Mstislav Rostropovich and in 2007 at the Seiji Ozawa Academy in Switzerland. In 2017, the violinist made her debut at the Lincoln Center in New York to critical acclaim: “Baeva was like a magnet on stage. The sound of her instrument, the richness of her sound and her astonishingly precise intonation were enchanting, while the soloist's strength and inner fire made her performance sound like a true masterpiece”, wrote the renowned New York Classical Review after the concert. The violinist's repertoire currently includes more than 40 violin concertos, including well-known classical masterpieces as well as lesser-known contemporary works.
In Vilnius, A. Baeva will perform one of the most famous works by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) – Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 47. In 1904, while the composer was passionately working on the manuscript of the Concerto, his wife, Aino, wrote in her letters: “Jean is absolutely passionate about this Concerto, and so am I! He stays up all night, he plays extremely beautifully, and he can't get away from those enchanting melodies – there are so many ideas in his head it's hard to believe. And all themes can be developed, they have life pulsating in them.”
In the second part of the concert, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra will invite you to hear Symphony No.9 in E minor by Czech composer Antonin Dvořák (1841-1904), better known as the Symphony "From the New World". The composer had a long-standing interest in folklore, and when he came to the USA to lead the American Conservatory of National Music, Dvořák delved into the depths of Indian and African-American ethnic music, and was particularly fascinated by the sacred music of the blacks – the spirituals, whose influence can also be heard in the work. Written in New York, “From the New World” has become not only Dvořák's most famous symphony, but also one of the most famous symphonies in the world.