Beethoven's Eighth and Truls Mørk in Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1
About the event
On the music stands of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra stands one of the most famous cello concertos of the twentieth century: Shostakovich's First, with the renowned cellist Truls Mørk as soloist. He extracts primal sounds from his instrument; Shostakovich would have nodded in satisfaction. Also on the program is Beethoven's Eighth Symphony, once premiered with the stone-deaf composer himself conducting. Beethoven's Symphony No. 8
Beethoven loved his Eighth Symphony; the public found the Seventh more beautiful. 'That is,' said Beethoven, 'because the Eighth is better.' In this piece, his shortest symphony, Beethoven looks back at Mozart, not at the future. The second movement is full of jokes about the metronome, which had just been invented. During the premiere in 1812, the orchestra followed the concertmaster, not the stone-deaf composer who stood waving in front of the musicians. Tonight, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra simply leaves the conductor out.
Truls Mørk plays Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1
Perhaps the most famous cello concerto of the twentieth century, Shostakovich's First. Shostakovich dedicated the work to the legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. The two were close friends, their gatherings colorful: both, after all, enjoyed a glass of vodka. In the First Cello Concerto, one hears depth, not necessarily virtuosity; the long cadenza is heartbreaking. After Rostropovich, there is no better soloist for the First Cello Concerto than Truls Mørk. He extracts the same kind of primal sound from his instrument as his predecessor. Shostakovich would have nodded in satisfaction.
