Czech Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov & Karen Gomyo
Helsinki Music Centre, Concert Hall
Fri 28.8.2026 19:00
Duration: approx 2h, interval
Czech Philharmonic
Semyon Bychkov, Chief Conductor and Music Director
Karen Gomyo, violin
Programme:
Dmitri Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70
Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1, composed in 1947–48, stands among the towering masterpieces of twentieth-century music. Written during one of the darkest periods of his life—amid Soviet censorship and political pressure—the concerto is both a deeply personal confession and a testament to artistic resilience. Dedicated to the legendary violinist David Oistrakh, who premiered it in 1955, the work reveals an astonishing range of expression: from brooding introspection to biting sarcasm, from tragic depth to defiant brilliance.
The four-movement structure traces a journey from the introspective Nocturne through the biting Scherzo and the monumental Passacaglia to the whirlwind Burlesque. Beneath its dazzling surface lies a voice of resistance and quiet courage—a testament to Shostakovich’s unbroken spirit and his belief in the expressive power of music.
The story of the Czech Philharmonic and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7 reaches back to 1896—the year the orchestra was founded. Since then, the symphony has accompanied the orchestra on its artistic journey, performed more than four hundred times across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Among the conductors who have brought it to life are Václav Talich, Karel Ančerl, Rafael Kubelík, Jiří Bělohlávek, Sir Charles Mackerras, and Herbert Blomstedt. Most recently, Semyon Bychkov led the Czech Philharmonic in the work during its acclaimed European tour in spring 2024. Later that year, Dvořák’s Seventh—together with his Eighth and Ninth Symphonies—was released on CD by Pentatone and named by The Times among the 20 Best Classical Albums of 2024 for its “vigorous rhythms, tenderly singing strings, and delightfully fresh sound.”
Composed between 1884 and 1885, the Seventh stands among Dvořák’s most dramatic and powerful works. Though less overtly Slavic in character, it radiates deep emotional truth and symphonic mastery—one of the great achievements of the post-Beethoven tradition.
Bios:
In co-operation with:
Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation