Virtuosos 44. HERO’S LIFE. CLOSING CONCERT

Artists:

• Adrian Bodnar, violin
• Mykola Liubenko, cello
• Lviv National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra 
• Pawel Kotla, conductor (Poland)

Program:

• Karol Kurpinski (1785-1857). Overture to the opera “Two Cottages”
• Robert Schumann (1810-1856). Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 129
• Richard Strauss (1864-1949). Symphonic poem “The Life of a Hero”, op. 40

The last evening of the Festival will provide a retrospective bridge to the Opening, as the central image of Virtuosos 44 is the human hero, his actions and intentions, his strength and tenderness, his hope and his struggle. This idea also permeates the Symphonic Poem “The Life of a Hero”, in the annotation to which Richard Strauss wrote that he dedicated this music not to a single poetic or historical figure, but rather to a generalized ideal of courage.

The evening will also feature Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor, whose search for excessive perfection never allowed the composer to enjoy its premiere during his lifetime. This time, Schumann’s only cello concerto will be performed by the soloist Mykola Liubenko. A representative of Polish Romanticism, Karol Kurpiński, will add to the romantic color of the concert by opening the evening with the Overture to the opera Two Cottages.