J. Sibelius. "Lemminkäinen" Suite, op. 22 ("Four Legends from Kalevala")
Ivan Karizna, cello
Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Arvo Volmer
Violoncellist Ivan Karizna is one of the most expressive musicians of his generation, renowned for his poetic interpretations and his impressive, forceful expression on stage. The cellist is praised by legends of the music world such as pianist Sir András Schiff, who described Karizna as "one of the finest cellists of his generation", and violinist Gidon Kremer, who said that "Karizna has something special to say in the music he performs".
After studying at the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 17, and later at the Kronberg Academy in Germany, Karizna was a laureate of the prestigious international competitions of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, and the Guilhermina Suggia Competition in Porto, among many others. In recent years he has performed with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio, Brussels Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra and others. In 2023 he made his debut at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. "I. Karizna's sensitivity and nobility of musical interpretation contrast with his imposing exterior. He has the qualities of a rock star that are at once charming and disturbing," wrote the French cultural magazine Branchés Culture. In Vilnius, Karizna will play Antonín Dvořák's (1841-1904) Cello Concerto in B flat minor, which the composer wrote for his friend, the cellist Hanús Wihan.
In the second part of the concert, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra will perform the spectacular "Lemminkäinen" suite by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), the complete title of which is The Four Legends of Kalevala. The four symphonic poems depict the adventures of one of Finland's most famous mythical heroes, the handsome, red-haired Lemminkäinen, as described in the Finnish national epic Kalevala.
The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by one of the most famous Estonian conductors Arvo Volmer. The internationally acclaimed conductor is especially appreciated for his interpretations of music by German and Nordic composers. Volmer is currently Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Estonian National Opera.
