3rd Symphony Concert

Pictures set into music: Pictures at an exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky is an absolute classic. Mussorgsky dedicates this piano suite to his deceased friend, painter and architect Viktor Hartmann. Inspired by Hartmann’s artworks, Mussorgsky composed a virtual tour through an art exhibition. “Gnomus”, “The Old Castle”, “Tuileries” or “Catacombs“ as well as the closing piece, set in a festive ambiance “The Great Gate of Kiev” – every single one of these images awakes an own atmosphere, which Mussorgksy set impressively into music. Even though Pictures at an exhibition, arranged for piano, did not receive much attention during Mussorgsky’s lifetime, 50 years later it finally made its way into the concert hall: With his incredible sense of timbre, Maurice Ravel transformed the piece into a dazzling orchestral version and made them world-famous.

Even Mussorgsky’s contemporary Johannes Brahms had no idea that his only violin concert would one day be considered a milestone in violin literature. Reviews of its premiere in 1879 did not suggest initially that this would be the case: the solo part was said to be unplayable and according to conductor Hans von Bulow this work was rather composed “against” instead of “for” the violin. Today, the concert, which was composed during the summer months in Pörtschach am Wörthersee, is one of the most remarkable examples of its genre – not at last because of Brahms’ mastery in using the solo instrument within the framework of a large symphonic narrative.