The concert opens with the composer’s Violin Concerto in D Major, composed for Iosif Kotek, Tchaikovsky’s violin student with whom he fell madly in love in 1876, two years before the concerto was completed. The emotional power of this piece is undeniable and its musical intensity is highlighted by Simone Lamsma’s highly expressive performance. The concert continues with the breathtaking Romeo and Juliet overture, a piece inspired by the famous Shakespearean tragedy. Though the composition does not entirely follow the original plot, it employs the central themes of the tragedy, including the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets, as well as the impossible love story between the two protagonists, brought to light by the heart-rending melody of the violins. 

Swan Lake, composed between 1875 and 1877, is one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular works. The gentle harp transports us into the magical world of the ballet, whose tragic conclusion is underlined by the famous swan theme, which first appears in a brisk tempo and then in a grand, major key. The concert concludes with a work by Johann Strauss Jr., the traditional Hungarian dance Csárdás from the three-act opera Ritter Pázmán (The Cavalier Pázmán). The musicians and conductor Elim Chan end the performance with energy and fervor, earning a well-deserved round of applause!