An indispensable part of the festival's music programme, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra had their first performance as part of the 74th Dubrovnik Summer Festival, last night, 2 August under the baton of maestro Pavle Zajcev, and alongside the German French cellist Nicolas Altstaedt. The excellent musicians were greeted with roaring applause in the crowd-filled Rector’s Palace atrium.
The evening’s start was “Classical”, Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 Sergei Prokofiev’s first symphonic work, in which the composer took the classical form as a model and weaved new, playful harmonies and colours into it. The Palace exuded that cheerfulness, after the first fluttering movements, in the excellent interpretation of the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra under the sure baton of maestro Pavle Zajcev. The historied Orchestra actively nurtures cooperation not only with the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, but also with internationally recognized artists, so at their first concert of this festival season, they hosted the renowned German French cellist Nicolas Altstaedt, who had already excelled with a solo performance a few nights before.
Joseph Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major was written for members of the court orchestra, and this once-lost piece provided a great opportunity for the soloist to demonstrate his virtuosity and technical skill, and having done so mastefully, was rewarded with roaring applause and standing ovations. At the same time, the Orchestra skilfully merged with Altstaedt, sovereignly sharing the festival stage with their precise playing. With charismatic energy that did not fade even for a moment, mo. Zajcev introduced the last piece on last night's programme, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93, one of his legendary nine symphonies which laid the foundation for understanding the symphony as a genre, and in which the famous composer returns to his roots and Haydn's legacy. The ensnaring rhythm that culminates in a growing final fortissimo and triumph showed the musicians of the Orchestra at their best, which was recognized by the delighted audience, who rewarded them with relentless applause and multiple calls to bow.
Tickets for the next concert on the 74th Dubrovnik Summer Festival music programmme, to be held by violinist Aylen Pritchin and pianist Maxim Emelyanychev tomorrow, 4 August in the Rector’s Palace, are available via the festival website www.dubrovnik-festival.hr or the service www.ulaznice.hr, at the box office in the Festival Palace (Od Sigurate 1) every day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and in front of the DTS building (Vukovarska St) from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
