Göteborgs Konserthus Dvorák Cello Concerto

Conductor Marta Gardolińska selects a rare French gem: Mel Bonis’ orchestral tribute to three legendary women. Symphony Orchestra musician Claes Gunnarsson is the soloist in Dvorák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, a true audience favourite.

We welcome Polish conductor Marta Gardolińska, whose titles include music director of the Opéra National de Lorraine. She presents the masterpiece that helped make Witold Lutoslawski one of the great modern composers of the twentieth century. He found inspiration from Polish folk music and dressed it with a modern sound in his Concerto for Orchestra from 1954.

From the French repertoire, we hear a hidden gem composed by Mélanie Bonis early in the last century. Her recently discovered orchestral suite tells the story of no less than Cleopatra, Salome and Ophelia.

After the interval, we hear Dvorák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, consistently named one of the world’s best. This grand, melodic work for full symphony orchestra is infused with sorrow and loss. When Dvorák’s mentor Brahms heard it, he said: “If I had known that it was possible to compose such a concerto for the cello, I would have tried it myself!”

The soloist is the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra’s Claes Gunnarsson.

Introduction to the concert

Take a seat in the Great Hall one hour before the concert begins and learn more about the music you will soon experience! You will get the stories behind the music, knowledge of the composers and own reflections about the classical pieces. The introduction last for about 30 minutes, it is free and free seating in the hall. Welcome!