Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell is this season's artist-in-residence at the NDR Elbphilharmonie. This also gives him the task of opening the Elbphilharmonie Symphony Orchestra's season (in September), alongside Alan Gilbert - the ensemble's bandmaster since 2019.

In this performing formula, a European tour will follow between the 6th and 12th of November. They will perform in Basel, Budapest, Zagreb, Erlangen and Frankfurt. But before their departure, they will also acquaint the home audience from Hamburg with the tour programme in a series of two concerts on Friday the 3rd and on Saturday the 4th of November.

Certainly, Radio România Muzical could not be missing it for the world, being, once again, the only station in the European Radio Union network to live broadcast the first of the two concerts in Hamburg.

On the schedule - two romantic masterpieces. Initially, we will listen to Joshua Bell perform Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Concerto Op. 35 in D major for violin and orchestra beside the orchestra conducted by Alan Gilbert. Like other works part of the world repertoire, Tchaikovsky's sole violin concerto did not entertain audiences, mainly critics, during their first audition. The composition has gradually established itself and is now a highly valued piece in every virtuoso violinist's repertoire.

During the following part, we will listen to Gustav Mahler's Fifth Symphony in C sharp minor. I should mention that Alan Gilbert is a self-proclaimed enthusiastic admirer of Mahler, so it will be compelling to observe his vision on the impressive work. Let's not forget that it has been about a month since we heard this work performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the lead of the Finnish bandmaster Sakari Oramo, so we have the opportunity to hear this piece once again, nevertheless, under a different approach, and I am certain that this time we will appreciate the high artistic level of the musicians as well.

I invite you on Friday, the 3rd of November, from 9:00 pm, on the European Stage to watch this live broadcasted concert from the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.