Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra

Johannes Schlaefli conductor
Anna Agafia violn

Béla Bartók
Hungarian Pictures, Sz 97
Sergueï Prokofiev
Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 19
Nikolaï Rimski-Korsakov
Scheherazade, Op. 35

The loudest, brashest, or most aggressive doesn't always win – the SJSO firmly believes this. The young musicians counter the world with their art, combining discipline and passion. What could be more fitting than Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade? Like in One Thousand and One Nights, Scheherazade, portrayed by a solo violin melody, fights for her life by captivating the ruler with her stories – at least until the next day. The incredibly rich orchestration provides many opportunities for SJSO members to shine as soloists.
Violinist Anna Agafia, on the verge of breaking onto the international stage, will be the soloist in Sergei Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1. In this work, first performed in 1924, the then "enfant terrible" Prokofiev reveals a lyrical side. Enchanting, imaginative, and finely woven music! Béla Bartók was also considered a radical figure in the 1920s. With works like Hungarian Pictures from 1931, he found a more restrained and personal style. A perfect complement to this program, which will be conducted by Johannes Schlaefli, the artistic director of the SJSO.