Gävle Symphony Orchestra – The Emperor Concerto

Information

The acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough performs this masterpiece together with conductor Alpesh Chauhan. The concert also features Ravel’s elegant miniatures and Tchaikovsky’s Third Symphony – a bright and dance-like symphony that stands apart from the composer’s other symphonies.

Alpesh Chauhan CONDUCTOR
Stephen Hough PIANO
Gävle Symphony Orchestra

M. RAVEL Two Miniatures (Prelude in A minor, Minuet on the Name of Haydn), orchestration: Tomas Westholm – 3 MIN
L. V. BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor Concerto” – 38 MIN
INTERVAL – 25 MIN
P. I. TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 3 “Polish” – 45 MIN

The Thursday Series opens with a concert in which three distinct musical worlds come together – from French elegance and classical grandeur to Russian symphonic splendour. Under the direction of conductor Alpesh Chauhan, Gävle Symphony Orchestra is joined by the internationally acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough in a programme combining precision, power and lyrical beauty.

The evening begins with two short but expressive pieces by Maurice Ravel, orchestrated by Tomas Westholm. Here, Ravel’s characteristic sound world is presented in concentrated form: the tranquil and colourful Prelude in A minor and the elegant minuet, written as a tribute to Haydn. The music provides a refined opening – transparent, nuanced and with a distinct sense of orchestral colour.

Next comes Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto, known as the Emperor Concerto. The work is one of the most beloved in the piano repertoire and represents Beethoven at the height of his creative powers. Virtuosity and symphonic grandeur come together in a close interplay between soloist and orchestra. Stephen Hough, renowned for his technical brilliance and poetic expression, brings both power and sensitivity to the concerto – from its majestic opening to the lyrical second movement and triumphant finale.

After the interval comes Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Third Symphony – a work that differs from his other symphonies through its brighter character and unusual five-movement structure. The symphony bears the nickname “Polish”, inspired by the polonaise rhythm of its finale, but it has much more to offer. Elegant dances, lyrical passages and magnificent orchestral sonorities all feature throughout. It is a symphony that reveals a more extroverted and festive side of Tchaikovsky, while his gift for melody and drama remains ever present.

Together, these three works form a concert that moves between different styles and periods, united by a strong sense of sound, form and musical storytelling. It is an evening in which the orchestra can display its full range – from the subtle and intricately detailed to the powerful and expansive – inviting the audience to experience music that both moves and engages.

Times:
The box office and restaurant open two hours before the concert.

Concert duration:
Approx. 2 hours, including interval.

Organiser:
Gävle Symphony Orchestra

The concert is included in the Full Subscription – Thursday Series.