Programme:

Jacques Offenbach
Grand Concerto for cello and orchestra in G major (Concerto militaire)

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 (Eroica)

Cast:

Petr Nouzovský – cello
Gábor Takács-Nagy – conductor

Offenbach is known as a famous composer of the French opera-bouffe rather than as a cello virtuoso. He was labeled “the Liszt cellist” and he wrote many compositions for his instrument. Among his smaller works are also larger ones like Danse Bohémienne, Grande scene Espagnole but especially his Grand concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre, known as Concerto militaire due to the fanfares in the third sentence. The author introduced this piece in 1848. Its interpretation will be performed on the Georg Rauer 1921 instrument by one of the best European cellist of his generation, who performed on more than 1700 concerts in 40 countries – Petr Nouzovský.

The second half of the concert belongs to the best symphony of all time. According to BBC Music magazine’s research, Beethoven’s Eroica is picked among 151 conductors globally. Originally, Beethoven dedicated this thrilling piece to Napoleon, who was fighting and winning in the name of the Great French Revolution. However, after Napoleon dropped the revolution idea, claimed himself an emperor and started conquering Europe, the composer dedicated it to “the memory of a great man” instead.