Conductor Zsolt Hamar will direct the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra’s third concert of the series For Megalomaniacs, on Friday, 16 December (Kolarac, 8pm). The Serbian premiere of Kancheli’s piece …a la duduki and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, respectively, will precede and follow Shostakovich’s famous Concerto for violoncello and orchestra, performed by Torleif Thedeen.
 
The philharmonic megalomaniacs will enjoy the grandiose symphonic repertoire of lush harmonies, unusual contrasts and massive sound. The concert opens with the piece …a la duduki, by contemporary Georgian composer Giya Kancheli. It was named after the duduk, a flute-like instrument from the Caucasus region, with a penetrating, unique sound. The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra will emulate the folk music, with the trumpet imitating the sound of the folk instrument.
 
Kancheli is recognised as one of the most important successors of Shostakovich, whose Concerto for violoncello and orchestra No.1 will be performed by one of the most highly regarded Scandinavian musicians, Torleif Thedeen. The composer dedicated the piece to the famous cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and it is considered as one of the most demanding pieces of music composed for this instrument.
 
The philharmonic megalomania in this concert will reach its culmination with the Symphonic Dances, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s last composition. The extravagant piece of the celebrated Russian composer contains self-quotations from his other works, which is how Rachmaninoff in a way summed up his entire oeuvre, giving additional symbolism to the piece that would turn out to be his last work.
 
The initially expected soloist in this concert was the celebrated cellist Natalia Gutman. Although the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra was looking forward to collaborating with the legend of Soviet and international artistic music, her appearance was cancelled owing to health reasons. The worthy stand-in will be Torleif Thedéen, while Zsolt Hamar will stand in for the announced conductor Marc Piollet for the same reason.