Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 102

The evening of 13 February brings together on one stage the monumental world of Johannes Brahms and the triumphant energy of Ludwig van Beethoven: a story of art as a higher moral calling, of friendship and of catharsis.

The first half of the evening draws us into Beethoven’s dramatic world. Symphony No. 2 in D major was written at a time when the composer was realising, with horror, that his deafness was irreversible, and when, on the brink of despair, he left behind a profoundly confessional letter. And yet the symphony is an astonishing triumph of the spirit: in place of darkness, it offers overflowing energy, humour and unshakeable optimism. A soaring momentum in the first movement, a warm, song-like idyll in the second, rebellious and infectious energy in the third, and a sparkling, joyous finale.

The programme continues with Brahms’s Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra in A minor, a work born of the need to heal a broken friendship through the power of music. The two solo instruments form a true allegory of human connection: the violin and cello converse, argue, yield to one another and complete each other, breathing as a single organism to arrive at a shared maturity rich in intimacy and meaning.

The soloists are Svetlin Roussev and László Fenyő, two artists from the very top of the international music scene.

A favourite of audiences in Bulgaria and around the world, Svetlin Roussev commands admiration with his stage presence, his noble, richly coloured tone and his dazzling virtuosity. He enjoys an impressive international career as a soloist and chamber musician, winning ovations in the most prestigious concert halls and festivals across Europe and Asia. He plays the priceless 1716 “Baron Wittgenstein” Stradivarius, entrusted to him by the Bulgarian state, and brings to his listeners refined stylistic insight and captivating artistic drive.

Hungarian cellist László Fenyő, First Prize winner of the Pablo Casals International Cello Competition, is among the most sought-after soloists of our time. Renowned for his deep musical sensitivity, rich tonal palette and impeccable technique, he plays a 1695 Matteo Goffriller cello whose noble sound fills the hall with incomparable warmth.

Brahms’s Double Concerto is a demanding test: it asks the soloists to set aside personal ego and make music as one. The soaring brilliance of the Stradivarius and the velvety register of the Goffriller can only meet through perfect intonational unity and genuine stage chemistry. Audiences will have the privilege of following this intense dialogue, from the dramatic cadenzas of the opening, through the moving unison of the slow movement, to the sparkling Hungarian-flavoured finale.

On the podium is Maestro Johannes Schlaefli. With his vivid temperament, refined stylistic sensibility and feeling for the subtlest emotional nuances, qualities well known to Allegra audiences, he will lead the musicians of the Festival Orchestra on this inspiring and cathartic journey.