deFilharmonie . Otto Tausk

Otto Tausk is a young Dutch conductor who is created a furore as Valery Gergiev replacement at Rotterdam's Gergiev Festival. For the past few years he has become an internationally requested conductor. Contemporary music is his favourite genre, but he doesn't shy away from the standard repertoire. In fact, Tausk is the ideal person for this concert. First on the programme we see Ligeti's 'Lontano', a grand orchestral movement with romantic rubato. Following this comes the first ever performance of the Second Piano Concerto by Luc Van Hove, a work he wrote especially for pianist Levente Kende. Music fans can see exactly how these two share an affinity with each other. You are going to enjoy this, for sure! Prokofiev wrote his Fifth Symphony in 1944, during a stay in Ivanovo, far removed from the violence of war. However, this work became famous as a laudatory expression of victory. At its world premiere in 1945, the composer himself conducted, for the very last time. At the beginning of the concert, as he moved to raise the baton, a volley of artillery was heard in the distance. Prokofiev waited until silence returned and proceeded to conduct his 'triumphant' symphony. Stalin had him in an artistic stranglehold, leaving him feeling anything but free, This can clearly be felt in the irritability that lies concealed beneath the classical spirit.