Concertgebouw Orchestra dedicates concerts to the victims of the war in Ukraine
Concerts to be concluded with Ukrainian national anthem
In light of the shocking recent developments in Ukraine, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra has decided to dedicate the concerts on 3, 4 and 6 March to the victims of this terrible and criminal war. The concerts, led by Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, will be concluded with a performance of the Ukrainian national anthem, Ще не вмерла України (‘Glory and freedom of Ukraine are not yet lost’).
The programme also includes Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, Concertstuk for violin and orchestra by Dutch composer Henriëtte Bosmans and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 12, ‘The Year 1917’. The question arose whether the programme should be changed because of political connotations, but after careful discussions with the orchestra musicians and conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali it was decided not to change it. While the repertoire is connected to political events in the past, the programme has no relation to the current war in Ukraine.
The concert on Thursday, 3 March will be streamed live through Concertgebouworkest.nl and the orchestra’s Facebook and YouTube channels.