Philzuid

Philzuid shines a spotlight on a number of symphonic pioneers. Featuring on the main menu is the mystical vision Le Poème de l’Extase by the Russian composer Alexander Scriabin.

An endless world of sound unfolds. At the beginning of the twentieth century, composers sought a deeper expressiveness. The boundaries of recognizable tonal reality were poetically expanded. Composers from all over Europe revealed new dimensions in sound, rhythm, and structure. One of the absolute masterpieces of that period is Le Poème de l’Extase by the Russian composer Alexander Scriabin. As never before, Scriabin plays with lush harmonies and timbres. Dream music for the inside of your eyes. Scriabin intensely believed that music has the power to change the world. In his Le Poème de l’Extase, Scriabin is inspired by Theosophy. According to this religious doctrine, man possesses mystical powers that enable us to break free from physical, earthly existence, on the way to a higher level of being. Scriabin’s work culminates in a joyful hymn to life, in which the human soul reaches for the highest.

The First Violin Concerto by the Polish composer Karol Szymanowski is rarely experienced in concert halls. In this five-movement work, the well-traveled Szymanowski experiments with Oriental timbres and exotic soundscapes. For half an hour, the listener feels transported to another world. The violin soloist is given ample opportunity to showcase their talent in several genuine, romantic passages. With her kaleidoscopic sound palette, this modern tour de force is perfectly suited to ‘Laureate of the Queen Elizabeth Competition’ Sylvia Huang. A true violinist who enjoys unearthing undiscovered violin gems and is also making waves with her GoYa Quartet Amsterdam. In between, the impressionistic genius Maurice Ravel provides a veritable feast of color. For his dance-like Valses nobles et sentimentales, the French master subtly turns the waltz inside out, creating, in passing, one of his most delightful compositions.

Program

Ravel – Valses nobles et setimentales
Szymanowski – Vioolconcert nr. 1, opus 35
Skrjabin – Le Poème de l’Extase, opus 54