For its 35th edition, the festival Radio France Occitanie Montpellier made the best of the music from the North. Most of the works presented are little-known ; it was high time that they should be. The music of the atmosphere poignant, all propel us in the great spaces of the shores of the Baltic sea, where they seem to be firmly rooted.
» READ ALSO – Kristjan Järvi, the fire nordic
Their character nostalgic wrapping and their singular evocative power would make excellent soundtracks for the cinema. The opening evening was led by the chief Estonian Neeme Järvi, at the head of the national symphony orchestra of Estonia. We discovered the very young violinist to the Swedish Daniel Lozakovich. At only eighteen years of age, hypermaterné by a mother’s all-pervasive, it is revealed to be a technician to be incredible, and has demonstrated his mastery on the violin Concerto of Beethoven, a work of extreme difficulty. Lozakovich stretches notes with an art that combines power and extreme discretion – sometimes also stealth as a deer. It will be re-broadcast on France Musique on 16 July, at 20h.
The second concert, performed by the Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie, has been led by Kristjan Järvi, son of Neeme. The first part, consisting of five works by Einojuhani Rautavaara, Kristjan Järvi, Arvo Pärt, Peteris Vasks, and Max Richter, has stunned the public. Played end to end without pause or applause, they were chained in wonder as if he had acted as a single work. It is then entered into a world which, though structured and strong, is powerfully air – an invitation to dream and escape. This was a great moment of music. The second part was devoted to The firebird by Stravinsky, created in 1910 at the Paris Opera at the request of Serge Diaghilev for the Ballets russes. It is one of the most beautiful music for ballet that is. Even if, listening to it, arise the images of the incredible choreography of Maurice Béjart, the satisfaction is full as this work is sufficient in itself. It will be rebroadcast on July 31st at 20h on France Musique.
● Extract of The firebird of Igor Stravinsky by the Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie
The festival will continue to explore the music of the North, worn by performers of the brand such as pianists Evgeny Kissin (July 16), Lukas Geniušas (July 18) or Nelson Freire (July 20). Of note, two works seldom data in our latitudes: The Little mermaid by Alexander von Zemlinsky (on 19 July), as well as opera in three acts by Vincent d’indy, Fervaal (24 July). Finally, the wonderful discovery of the pictures at an exhibition , by Modest Mussorgsky, in an original version for strings and percussion, signed Jacques Cohen and Andrejs Puskarevs and performed by the Kremerata Baltica (July 15).
