Musical Scenes: Kurt Weill & Shostakovich

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Image courtesy of L'auditori

This concert, conducted by Francesc Prat, brings together stage music—whether written for theater, ballet, or circus—by some of the most influential composers of the 20th century: Igor Stravinskys, Dmitri Shostakovich and Kurt Weill. From the composer of The Rite of Spring, we will hear the brief yet spirited Circus Polka, an energetic opener that leads into Shostakovitch's Ballet Suite No. 1. This suite unfolds through a series of dances, beginning with a nostalgic waltz, weaving in allusions to Tchaikovsky, and concluding with a buoyant gallop.

The program continues with Shostakovitch's Suite No. 4, which closes the evening. Though it includes fewer dances, it captivates with contrasts of lightness and depth, most poignantly in the somber lines of its prelude. Between the two Shostakovitch works comes Kurt Weill’s Kleine Dreigroschenmusik (Little Threepenny Music), a score of bittersweet drama. Reflecting the precariousness of life in the interwar years, its music suggests the constant juggling and resilience people needed to endure.

For more music events check our online events calendar.