Vladimir Jurowski conductor
Leonidas Kavakos violin

Webern Passacaglia
Lindberg Chorale
Berg Violin Concerto
Schnittke Symphony 3



‘In art, the impossible has a chance of success.’ So wrote Alfred Schnittke in 1981 as he struggled with his belief in the symphonic format, responding to a commission from this orchestra’s former Principal Conductor Kurt Masur for a Third Symphony. Eventually Schnittke’s creativity flowered into a work of extraordinary imagination and effect. He explored the near hypnotic qualities of harmonic ‘overtones’ – the inaudible sounds implied by the resonance of a single note. As it launches, the music selfperpetuates towards near ecstatic harmonic junctions punctuated by pounding drums; there’s a compelling sense of tension and release. Schnittke’s Third presents a live concert experience not to be missed.

The reluctant pizzicato strings and dolorous flutes that open this concert in Webern’s Passacaglia seem almost to resist the music’s onward progress, but the orchestra gives itself away before long. The ‘Passacaglia’, which originated in 17th century Spain, is a type of piece in which a bass line is repeated throughout the whole work, while melodic lines are developed freely above it. Webern’s orchestra swallows the bass theme in massive surges, as if romanticisim is imploding upon itself. Despite its brevity, this is music of titanic power and beauty from a young man at the beginning of his career.

Magnus Lindberg’s Chorale takes its main theme from ‘Es ist genug’ from J.S. Bach’s Cantata 60. In a concert of music spanning nearly 100 years, this is the most recent work, finished in 2002.

Berg’s Violin Concerto was the composer’s last completed piece; he set aside his opera Lulu to write it quickly in response to a commission – and ‘to the memory of an angel’ - Alma Mahler’s daughter Manon Gropius, who had died from polio aged 18. Gentle elegy blossoms into strangely affectionate music (including a lullaby) in the sensitive but uncompromising solo role. The adagio movement that ends the concerto is also based on Bach’s Chorale ‘Es ist genug’, ‘It is enough’.

Leonidas Kavakos is renowned worldwide for his virtuosity, superb musicianship and integrity of playing, and is Southbank Centre’s Artist in Focus in a week of concerts, recitals, talks and informal musicmaking between 25 November and 2 December 2009.

FREE 6.00pm–6.45pm | Royal Festival Hall
A performance of works including the Bach/Webern Ricercar and Schnittke’s Polyphonic Tango.

FREE Barlines – post-concert event | Central Bar, Level 2 | Royal Festival Hall
An informal discussion with Vladimir Jurowski and the evening’s soloist Leonidas Kavakos.

To hear selected movements from this concert and Es ist genug from Bach's Cantata BWV 60, select a track below to open the music file. (Windows Media Player required.)
Webern: Passacaglia
Berg: Violin Concerto - I. Andante - Scherzo
Berg: Violin Concerto - II. Allegro - Adagio
J S Bach: Es ist genug (Chorale from Cantata BWV 60)

TICKETS: £9 - £55
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FILM SCREENING: The Agony
Saturday 28 November 2009
A screening of Elem Klimov’s 1974 film The Agony, with score by Alfred Schnittke.
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CONCERT: Schnittke and Haydn
Saturday 28 November 2009
Jurowski conducts Schnittke’s Cello Concerto No.2 and Haydn’s The Seven Last Words

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Audio Samples:
Audio Sample 1: Lindberg Chorale. Audio Sample 2: Schnittke Symphony 3.