Concertzender Live

In this episode we will hear parts of two recordings from the archives, this time of amateur orchestras. Following former episodes, we will concentrate on Russian composers from the 19th and 20th centuries, beginning with a concert that took place on 16 January 1994 in Muziekgebouw Frits Philips in the city of Eindhoven. The programme was presented by the Dutch National Student Orchestra conducted by Lawrence Renes; they were on their 42nd tour. This tour was intended to collect money for good causes: disabled students and fugitive students. These student musicians set aside their studies for a month to go on tour. They begin their concert with Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini for piano and orchestra of Sergej Rachmaninov, with, as a soloist, Frank Peters. This work is also jokingly called Rachmaninov’s 5th piano concerto. The well-known theme of Paganini influenced many composers, such as Liszt and Brahms. So, first you will hear the theme, and after that, 24 variations on it. The 18th variation is the most important: the insanely romantic sounds which Rachmaninoff dedicated to his manager at the time.

The Dutch conductor Lawrence Renes studied with Ed Spanjaard and Jac van Steen at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, where he graduated with distinction in 1993. In August 1992, he was one of the finalists at the International Conductors Masterclass, at which he conducted for television. After winning the Elisabeth Evertsprijs, he was appointed permanent conductor at the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a result he is invited to conduct all over the world since. We continue with the second piece the Dutch National Student Orchestra played, which is the symphonic poem Ein Heldenleben of Richard Strauss.

The second concert was given by ‘Het Orkest’ conducted by Alexander Vakoulsky. Between 1987 and 2009, Alexander Vakoulsky was principal conductor of this orchestra. He died last year. He came from the Russian musical tradition and helped this amateur orchestra to reach higher levels. That is why they played works of Russian composers, starting with the famous 5th symphony of Tchaikovsky. This work consists of four parts.

An encore from this concert follows, for listeners who want to hear more. You can hear it as long as time allows. Once again, music of a Russian composer, this time of Aleksandr Glazunov: the Alto Saxophone Concerto, with soloist Arno Bornkamp.