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Special Concert - Symphony Concert

Also sprach Zarathustra

Julia Fischer with the violin concerto by Barber and Strauss' famous tone poem
© Sue Yang

03/06

Saturday | 03/06/2027
7:00 pm Start of Concert
Kulturpalast, Konzertsaal

Prices
from 64 | 53 | 45 | 39 | 29 | 22 €
FLEX fee + 6 €
Reduced prices:
from € 10 for pupils under 18 
from €10 for young people under 30
from 11 € for Dresden-Pass and SB from GdB 80
Who receives discounts? Read here.

About the Concert

When the first notes of Strauss' tone poem "Also sprach Zarathustra" sound, many believe they are hearing film music. This is correct: the striking opening fanfare became instantly famous through Stanley Kubrick's "2001 - A Space Odyssey". However, it was composed over 100 years earlier and had nothing to do with outer space; Strauss was rather thinking about philosophical questions posed by Friedrich Nietzsche. He did not answer them in this work, as the ending remains harmoniously "unresolved". Film music is also believed to be heard in Barber's Violin Concerto, even though the music was never used in films. Catchy melodies and especially the second, very emotional movement may contribute to this perception. In the USA, it is so popular that it is among the most frequently performed violin concertos of the 20th century. On the other hand, Sergei Prokofiev deliberately composed in a classical style when creating his First Symphony. With a wink, he imagined how Haydn would sound in the 20th century. The result was one of the shortest symphonies ever, lasting only fifteen minutes, and it immediately became a success with the audience.

Programme

Sergei Prokofiev
Symphony No.1 in D major "Classical Symphony"

Samuel Barber
Violin Concerto

Richard Strauss
"Also sprach Zarathustra"

Artists

Vasily Petrenko
Dirigent
Julia Fischer
Violin
Dresdner Philharmonie

Biographies

Vasily Petrenko

After completing his training and initial engagements in St Petersburg, Vasily Petrenko embarked on a successful career as an internationally renowned conductor. He has been Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra since 2021, having previously served as Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra for many years. His charismatic manner and versatility on the concert and opera stage make him a highly sought-after artist. In 2024, he founded a new academy for conductors in Armenia.

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Julia Fischer

Julia Fischer embodies artistic versatility in perfection: as a violin soloist and chamber musician, and meanwhile also as an artistic director and renowned violin professor, she has been enriching the international music world for over three decades. Since 2017, she has been presenting her recordings and other artistic content exclusively to members of the JF CLUB. Just as important to her as her international concert activities is the musical education of the next generation.

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Dresdner Philharmonie

Top Class!

Top class! That is the claim of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra stands for concerts at the highest artistic level, musical education for all ages and looking beyond the musical horizon. Guest performances on almost every continent and collaborations with guests from all over the world have established the reputation of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra in the international classical music world.  

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