Every now and then, I encounter a concert program that features music that I don't quite know. Most of the time, I gravitate towards contemporary classical music, but sometimes I go beyond my comfort zone and attend a program featuring music that is relatively older than what I normally prefer. This program which I attended back in February was one such event, as this concert by the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin featured works by Paul Kletzki, Andrzej Czajkowski, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. I haven't heard of the first two names, and while I heard of the third, the work that was featured was not familiar to me.
It turns out that both Kletzki and Czajkowski were Polish Jews. And their music wasn't well-known, perhaps because they had to endure the Holocaust. In fact, most of Kletzki's works were supposedly lost, destroyed during World War II. So this concert was an introductory one to me, at least, as this is a body of music that I haven't encountered before.
I must say the music was gripping. The first half featured Kletzki's Concert music for woodwinds, timpani and string orchestra op. 25, which was composed in 1932. It definitely showcases aspects of modernism, and I was reminded of Stravinsky and the brutal approach to music of the compositions from this time. Then, Czajkowski's Concert for violin and orchestra followed next, with Ilya Gringolts as the solo violinist. This work dates from 1962, and is a great exemplar of early contemporary classical music.
After the intermission, Tchaikovsky's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in G, Op. 55 was played. This is a relatively long work, about 40 minutes long, which is absolutely a typical token of music from the Romantic Period. From the very first bars, it was very obvious that it was Tchaikovsky's work: it reminded me of bits and pieces of Swan Lake and his other works that are quite popular. This isn't a bad thing, of course, it's just not the type of music I typically go for. Nevertheless, it was music that can make you swoon, it was music that moves, and it was music that definitely requires an entire orchestra to captivate the audience.
Overall, I had a great time. I am not a big fan of the Konzerthaus as a venue, but nevertheless, the music that emanates from it is amazing.
