Symphonic Masterpieces – Russian Landscapes

Zubin Mehta, conductor-in-residence of the first season of Abu Dhabi Classics and the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino will perform Tchaikovsky’s „Pathétique“ Symphony and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. „I regard it as easily the best of all my works,“ declared composer Tchaikovsky about his famous last symphony, „and I love it as I have never before loved one of my musical off-spring.“ The title „Pathétique“ was the suggestion of his brother Modest. Tchaikovsky acknowledged the existence of a programme in the highly emotional, deeply moving work, but he never revealed what it was. Before the interval, Mussorgsky’s famous Pictures.

The composition is based on ten paintings from a memorial exhibition of his late friend Viktor Hartman. And these paintings as well as the musical snapshots they inspired – ranging from the „Marketplace at Limoges“ to the „Hut of the Witch Baba-Yaga“ to „The Great Gate of Kiev“ – will also form the basis of the children’s painting competition, „Pictures at an Exhibition“. In conjunction with the concert, there will be an exhibition, and Maestro Zubin Mehta in person will present the prizes to the competition winners – a collaboration between Abu Dhabi Classics and various Abu Dhabi schools.