On Friday, October 4, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra will for the first time perform under the baton of conductor Jaime Martín, featuring young violinist Johan Dalene, (Kolarac Hall, 8 PM). The concert, titled Living with the Enemy, will showcase works by Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

In the lives of Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich, creativity was often burdened by censorship, which influenced the composers’ stylistic expressions. After spending sixteen years abroad, Prokofiev decided to return to his homeland, fully aware that he would need to adapt his style to align with the Soviet regime’s expectations. To meet these demands, he reduced his use of humor, sarcasm, and grotesque elements, shifting towards heightened lyricism and melodic expressions.

Prokofiev’s lively Violin Concerto No. 2 will be performed by the young Swedish-Norwegian rising star, Johan Dalene. At just 23, he has already performed with leading orchestras and in prestigious concert halls both at home and internationally. His ability to make the Stradivarius sing under his fingers (Le Monde), paired with his refreshingly sincere musicianship and connection with fellow musicians and audiences, has earned him many admirers. In 2022, Gramophone magazine named him Young Artist of the Year.

The audience will read between the lines of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, which the composer wrote in response to harsh criticism of his earlier works. The result is one of the most renowned dissident pieces in the world, with the composer offering a brief subtitle for the score: A lengthy spiritual battle, crowned by victory.

The concert’s triumphant finale will be led by Spanish conductor Jaime Martín, Chief Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Chief Conductor of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in Ireland.

Tickets are available at the Belgrade Philharmonic box office as well as online.