Program
Part I
Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996) - concerto for cello and orchestra op. 43
Part II
Ferenc Liszt (1811–1886) - concerto for piano and orchestra
The Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra invites you to enjoy the amazing magic of cello sounds, with which cello virtuoso Kristina Reiko Cooper (USA) will enchant the audience. The famous guest was invited to Kaunas by maestro Constantinas Orbelianas, who will conduct tonight's concert. The concert program will feature an exceptional piece - Mieczysław Weinberg's concerto for cello and orchestra op. 43.
Mieczysław Weinberg's Cello Concerto is one of the composer's best-known works and is often cited as a significant contribution to the 20th century. cello concerto repertoire. Mr. Weinberg was a Polish composer of Jewish origin who was greatly influenced by his experiences in World War II, his escape from the Holocaust, and his close friendship with the composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
Ms. Weinberg's style is often characterized by emotional depth, lyricism and introspection. His Cello Concerto is emotionally charged, reflecting both Mr. Weinberg's personal experiences and the tumultuous historical context of his time, and speaks to the composer's ability to convey deep emotions through music. The mood of the concert ranges from haunting and melancholic to uplifting and defiant. The final part of the concerto features a significant cadenza cello solo, allowing the soloist to demonstrate his technical prowess and musical interpretation. This part often stands out as a great moment of the concert.
Weinberg's music has gained increasing recognition in recent years thanks to efforts by musicians, musicologists and organizations to rediscover his works. His works, including the Cello Concerto, are increasingly being performed and recorded, which helps to better understand the composer's artistic contribution.
Stunning cello virtuoso KRISTINA REIKO COOPER has gained worldwide recognition for her musical versatility and artistry and charisma on stage. Her professional accomplishments range from BA, MA and Doctor of Music degrees at the Juilliard School to her current position as Visiting Professor at Tel Aviv University in Israel.
Although Kristina is well known for her academic achievements in the field of music, she began her career primarily as a classical music performer. Hailed as a "concert sensation" by The New York Times and a "stunning virtuoso" by the Los Angeles Times, Kristina has performed as a soloist and chamber musician on many of the world's leading stages, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Tokyo's Suntory Hall" and "Radio France" in Paris. As a soloist, she performed with the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, and toured with the Tokyo Yomiuri and Shanghai Symphony Orchestras.
Kristina is often heard performing contemporary music. Contemporary composers such as Philip Glass, Mario Davidovsky, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tania Leon, Josef Bardanashvili, Benjamin Yusupov have written works especially for her.
in 2022 in November, Kristina Reiko Cooper performed the cello solo part in the world composer Lera Auerbach's symphony no. 6 at the premiere of "Light Bearers" dedicated to Chijune Sugihara. The world premiere took place at the Kaunas State Philharmonic, the city where the visas that saved thousands of lives were issued.
In the second part of the concert, the audience will have the opportunity to hear a young Armenian talent - pianist VARDAN GYODAKYAN. V. Gyodakyan is a laureate of international competitions in Italy, Yerevan, Malaysia, Ukraine and Lithuania. This summer, the performer won the main prize at the AGBU Discovers Talents pianist competition, which gave him the opportunity to hold a solo concert with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra. Currently, V. Gyodakyan is deepening his professional knowledge at the VMU Music Academy under Professor Alexander Paley. In this evening's program, V. Gyodakyan will perform F. Lizst's concerto for piano and orchestra.
