Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 and Stravinsky's Firebird

Symphony Orchestra Bellitoni accompanies Niek Baar in Shostakovich

The Bellitoni Symphony Orchestra returns to The Concertgebouw with two absolute masterpieces from the orchestral repertoire. Niek Baar, winner of the 2018 National Violin Competition, plays the acrobatic violin part of Shostakovich's intense First Violin Concerto from 1948. David Oistrakh gave the world premiere only after Stalin's death, characterizing the first movement as a 'suppression of feelings' and the Scherzo as 'demonic'.

Stravinsky's Complete Firebird

Stravinsky made his breakthrough in 1910 with The Firebird (commissioned by the Ballets Russes in Paris). Usually we only hear the suite in the concert hall, now Bellitoni's chief conductor Jurjen Hempel conducts the complete ballet in which all orchestral registers are pulled open. A great opportunity to experience this colorful masterpiece by the Russian master in its entirety.