Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Guntis Kuzma, will perform music by Edvard Grieg, Felix Mendelssohn and Heinrich Hübler in the White Hall of Rundāle Palace on 2 August at 19:00. The Liepāja French Horn Quartet will shine on stage as soloists in this summer evening concert.
Edvard Grieg’s suite “From the Time of Holberg” reflects the magic of 18th century dance music, enhanced by the age-appropriate White Hall of Rundāle Palace, which once served as a dance hall and has witnessed countless festive occasions. Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No 3, also known as the Scottish Symphony, will captivate the audience with a musical journey through the landscapes and history of Scotland, while Heinrich Hübler’s rarely performed Concerto for 4 Horns and Orchestra will be performed by the Liepāja French Horn Quartet, the only professional French horn quartet in Latvia.
The Liepāja French Horn Quartet is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The Liepāja French Horn Quartet consists of Liepāja Symphony Orchestra musicians. It has performed both in Latvia and abroad, delighting the audience with a wide repertoire, which includes both classical and contemporary music pieces. The Liepāja French Horn Quartet also regularly enhances the programme of the “Rimbenieks” Festival organized by the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra.
“In 1849, Heinrich Hübler participated in the performance of Robert Schumann’s “Concerto” for four French horns in Dresden, with Schumann himself being present. This event, in turn, inspired Hübler to compose his own “Concerto” for four french horns and orchestra. Thanks to his excellent command of this instrument, Hübler created a piece that was technically less complex than the one composed by Schumann, but equally impressive. Although the musicians of the Liepāja French Horn Quartet have previously played it with piano accompaniment in various composition of participants, we are very happy to experience our old dream coming true, which is performing this piece together with our own colleagues from the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra,” says French horn player Aivars Vadonis.
Heinrich Hübler was a German composer and French horn virtuoso who spent his entire musical career in Dresden, serving for many years as French horn player in the Dresden Royal Court Orchestra. Hübler's best-known work, the Concerto for 4 Horns and Orchestra, written between 1854 and 1856, is a vivid testament to the composer's talent and is still performed today.
Edvard Grieg is the most significant and best-known Norwegian composer. He used Norwegian folk music and, inspired by the breathtaking landscapes of Norway, gave it new and striking individual expressions. At the same time, in most of his music he avoided direct quotations, preferring to seek less obvious ways to create a Norwegian melody pattern.
Felix Mendelssohn was one of the most prominent representatives of Romanticism, whose music reflects the splendor and elegance of the era, and is distinguished by its melodic richness and exquisite orchestration. His works are full of zest of life, romantic longing and reflections of natural landscapes.
Mendelssohn's Symphony No 3, also known as the Scottish Symphony, is one of the composer's most romantic and inspiring works, written between 1829 and 1842 and is a musical journey through the history, landscapes and legends of Scotland.
Tickets for the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra concerts can be purchased at “Biļešu paradīze” ticket offices.
The Concert is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.
