Conductor and Soloist: Christian Zacharias

Event has already taken place. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Christian Zacharias conductor & piano, Gothenburg Symphony Choir

Concert length: 2 h incl. intermission Stage: Stora salen

365-525 SEKStudent 183-262 SEK

Programme & Participants

Event has already taken place

As a conductor and internationally acclaimed pianist, Christian Zacharias often performs both of these roles simultaneously – an impressive feat. Here he apperas in both roles as he leads the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and choir in music by Brahms, and as soloist in Robert Schumann’s Introduction and allegro, inspired by Lord Byron’s gothic lyrics with magical settings and supernatural beings.

Brahms’ song Nänie is based on a text by Schiller, which many associate with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and An die Freude, “Ode to Joy”. Nänie means funeral song, but this is a beautiful song of praise, composed to to the artist and friend Anselm Feuerbach who had passed away. Brahms’ music has both warmth and dramatic nerve.

The gods are happy in their peaceful existence while humans have to fight in painful uncertainty. This is one way to summarize Friedrich Hölderlin’s poem Schicksalslied, “The Song of Fate”, whose lines Brahms skilfully follows through light and darkness. What awaits after life?

Schumann’s Piano Concerto is famous and one of the foremost of its kind, but he also wrote another work for piano and orchestra: Introduction and Allegro. The piece was composed in two days in an exalted inspiration, at a time when Lord Byron’s supernatural drama Manfred engulfed Schumann. And it seems that Byron’s unholy spirits have taken some motives in a firm grip.

The melodically versatile and rich Fourth symphony is by many considered to be Schumann’s symphonic masterpiece. From the nervous, unstoppable energy in the outer movements to the romance’s melancholy and hopeful gratitude to life – emotions that one simply can’t resist.

Introduction to the concert

Welcome to a free introduction to the concert one hour before the concert starts, in the Great Hall. The introduction is in Swedish.

Programme

R Schumann Introduktion und Allegro appassionato16 min

Intermission25 min

R Schumann Symphony No 429 min

Participants

Christian Zacharias conductor

Göteborgs Symfoniska Kör

Here you will find all the necessary information that you need to know about before your magical visit in the Concert Hall.

Concert experience

Invite yourself or someone you like to an experience for all the senses. Welcome to visit the Concert Hall's restaurant or one of our foyer bars.

Food & drinks

Many of the works of art in Gothenburg Concert Hall are connected to music or have a relationship with Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Here you will find everything from portraits of composers such as Grieg and Sibelius to one of Sweden's largest tapestries, with design by Sven X-et Erixson.

Art in the Concert Hall