Brisbane
Concert Hall, QPAC
18 Aug 2025, 7pm
$59 - $167*
A celebration of the power of music featuring Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with superstar pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk.
Music is a powerful defense against darkness. Throughout history, composers have responded to adversity by creating music full of hope. Richard Tognetti directs this profound program that features Ukrainian-born, internationally renowned pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk making his Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) debut in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Shostakovich’s witty, irreverent Piano Concerto No. 1, with David Elton on trumpet.
Gershwin’s much-loved Rhapsody in Blue is a life-affirming explosion of jazz and joy, an exultant celebration of difference and dynamism. In contrast, Shostakovich’s intense and emotional Chamber Symphony, dedicated to the victims of fascism and oppression, tells a story of fear and melancholy but never loses hope.
In response, the ACO has commissioned a new work from Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, known for his lyrical, introspective, and consoling style, which he shares with his friend Arvo Pärt. This special piece, written for the ACO while Silvestrov sheltered from war after escaping Kyiv, stands with the victims of injustice, lighting the darkness and celebrating human ingenuity and courage.
Program: - George Gershwin (arr. piano, trumpet, and strings) Rhapsody in Blue - Dmitri Shostakovich (arr. Rudolf Barshai) Chamber Symphony in C minor, Op. 11 - "Dedicated to the memory of the victims of fascism and war" - Valentin Silvestrov A Moment of Memory (World Premiere) - Claude Vivier Zipangu - Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor, Op. 35 (Commissioned by the Australian Chamber Orchestra)
A celebration of the power of music featuring Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.1 with superstar pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk Music is a powerful defence against darkness. Throughout history, composers have responded to adversity time and time again by creating music full of hope. Richard Tognettidirects this profound program that features Ukrainian-born, internationally renowned pianistAlexander Gavrylyukmaking hisAustralian Chamber Orchestra(ACO) debut inGershwin’sRhapsody in BlueandShostakovich’s witty, irreverent Piano Concerto No. 1 withDavid Eltonon trumpet. Gershwin’s much-lovedRhapsody in Blueis a life-affirming explosion of jazz and joy, an exultant celebration of difference and dynamism. It’s a stark contrast toShostakovich’s intense and emotional Chamber Symphony, dedicated to the victims of fascism and oppression. It tells a story of fear and melancholy but never loses hope. In response, the ACO have commissioned a new work from Ukrainian composerValentin Silvestrov, known for his lyrical, introspective and consoling style which he shares with his friendArvo Pärt. This is a special piece, which the composer wrote for the ACO while sheltering from war after escaping his native Kyiv. This is music that stands with victims of injustice. It lights the darkness and celebrates human ingenuity and courage. George Gershwin(arr. piano, trumpet and strings)Rhapsody in BlueDmitri Shostakovich(arr.Rudolf Barshai) Chamber Symphony in C minor, Op.11 0a “Dedicated to the memory of the victims of fascism and war”Valentin SilvestrovA Moment of Memory (World Premiere) ^Claude VivierZipanguDmitri ShostakovichPiano Concerto No.1 in C minor, Op.35^Commissioned by theAustralian Chamber Orchestra.
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