Demonized and forgotten: Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Ernst von Dohnányi's Symphony No. 1 with two debutants at the NDR EO: Gergely Madaras and Alexander Gadjiev will perform at the Musik- und Kongresshalle in Lübeck on December 5.

Introductory event with Julius Heile at 6.30 pm

Gergely Madaras Conductor
Alexander Gadjiev piano
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra

SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor op. 16
ERNST VON DOHNÁNYI
Symphony No. 1 in D minor op. 9

Romantic and intricately virtuosic: Gadjiev makes his debut with Prokofiev

When Sergei Prokofiev's Second Piano Concerto was performed for the first time in September 1913 with the composer at the piano, the audience went wild with indignation: "To hell with futuristic music. The cats on the roof make better music." Prokofiev bowed as if he was being cheered - and played an encore. Over a century later, the concerto, which to today's ears is rather "moderate", beginning with an almost romantic theme and featuring the most difficult solo cadenza of all time, has long been recognized as a masterpiece. The acclaim for soloist Alexander Gadjiev will therefore certainly be genuine. The polyglot pianist, who was born on the Italian-Slovenian border, is making his first guest appearance with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra.

A rediscovery to fall in love with: Madaras makes his debut with Dohnányi

Hungarian conductor Gergely Madaras, who is highly sought after by international orchestras and opera houses, will also make his debut on the podium. The current head of the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège is very fond of the repertoire of his homeland - and this includes not only music by Liszt, Kodály and Bartók, but also by Ernst von Dohnányi! The grandfather of former NDR chief conductor Christoph von Dohnányi was a fellow pupil and contemporary of Bartók, but stylistically remained more attached to his role model (and admirer) Johannes Brahms - with a recognizable preference for the opulent orchestral sound of Bruckner, Mahler and Strauss. Unfortunately, his orchestral music is almost never heard in the concert hall today, although the then 24-year-old composer's First Symphony in particular once impressed his colleague Bartók so much that he memorized the entire score ... So it's high time for this worthwhile rediscovery by the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, which all fans of late Romantic orchestral music will love!