J. Brahms Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102
A. Dvořák. Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World", Op. 95
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On this evening, the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra invites you to hear an exceptional duo: one of the most famous Lithuanian string players, cellist Povilas Jacunskas, who is celebrating his anniversary, and violin virtuoso Džeraldas Bidva, who will perform Johannes Brahms' (1833–1897) Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102 – a work of impressive beauty and sparkling melodiousness.
Povilas Jacunskas is undoubtedly one of the most prominent cellists in Lithuania today. He completed post-graduate studies in 2010 at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, is a laureate of national and international competitions, and improved his skills in the master classes of David Gering, Reinhard Latzko, Yo-Yo Ma and many other world-renowned cellists. P. Jacunskas is the concertmaster of the cello group of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra and also performs with the string quartet "ArtVio", the piano trio "FortVio", the ensemble "Cello Club". In 2015 together with "FortVio" P. Jacunskas was awarded the Lithuanian Government's Culture and Art Prize. Since 2010 P. Jacunskas has been teaching chamber music at the M. Romeris University, and since 2011 – at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre as well.
The special guest of this concert is violinist Džeraldas Bidva, the long-time concertmaster of the chamber orchestra "Kremerata Baltica" and the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra. Graduate of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Paris Conservatory, Dž. Bidva is invited to appear at prestigious festivals in Austria, Switzerland, Germany and elsewhere as soloist and leader of various chamber ensembles. The violinist has performed with prominent performers and conductors, including Gustavo Dudamel, Christoph Eschenbach, Simon Rattle, Martha Argerich, Gidon Kremer and others. Dž. Bidva has recorded more than 20 CDs with various orchestras, which received excellent reviews and won prestigious awards at ICMA, "Grammy", "Echo Klassik".
In the second part of the concert the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra will invite you to listen to Czech composer Antonin Dvořák’s (1841–1904) Symphony No. 9 in E minor, better known as the symphony "From the New World". The composer has long been interested in folklore, and when he came to the United States to head the American National Conservatory of Music, A. Dvořák plunged into the depths of Indian and African-American ethnic music and was especially fascinated by black sacred music – spirituals, the influence of which can also be heard in the work. Written in New York, the symphony "From the New World" became not only the most famous symphony composed by A. Dvořák, but also one of the most famous symphonies in the whole world.
Viktoras Ploskina, one of the most accomplished Ukrainian conductors, will conduct the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra this evening. In 1993 V. Ploskina graduated from the Lviv National Academy of Music, and in 1998 became the laureate of the second National Conducting Competition. In 2000-2002 he managed the Serbian National Opera, in 2002-2003 was the artistic director and chief conductor of the Dnipropetrovsk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, in 2004-2005 was chief conductor with the Crimean State Philharmonic and in 2007-2019 – chief conductor of the Belarusian National Academic Grand Opera and Ballet Theatre. Currently, V. Ploskina cooperates with all the largest symphony orchestras of Ukraine.