Between May 5 and 7, the Enescu Festival Online presents a romantic and emotional concert with works by Enescu and Tchaikovsky, performed by the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and two of the best-rated musicians of the moment – cellist Gautier Capuçon and the violinist Maxim Vengerov, who is also conducting.
The concert took place at the 2019 George Enescu International Festival and started with Vengerov’s passionate rendition of the Ballade for Violin and Orchestra that the 14-year-old Enescu composed in 1895. The performance continued with a romantic program dedicated to Tchaikovsky‘s music, which climaxed with the Sixth Symphony, La Pathétique. The program featured brilliant violinist Maxim Vengerov as both soloist and conductor of the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, and cellist Gautier Capuçon in turn one of the most charismatic, enchanting and exuberant musicians performing today.
Universally hailed as one of the world’s finest musicians, and often referred to as the greatest living string player in the world today, Maxim Vengerov enjoys international recognition as both conductor and violinist. Maxim Vengerov plays a 1727 “Ex-Kreutzer” Stradivarius violin and is the winner of a Grammy (2003) and the Gramophone Award for Artist of the Year in 2002. Being a constant presence on stages across the globe, his latest projects include the opening of the 2018/19 season of the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, a Residence with Monte-Carlo Philharmonic, and the Philharmonie in Paris, as well as several recitals in the US, China, and Europe.
Gautier Capuçon is internationally acclaimed for his expressive musicianship, exuberant virtuosity, and the deep sonority of his 1701 Matteo Goffriller cello. Recording exclusively for Erato (Warner Classics), Capuçon has won multiple awards and holds an extensive discography. His latest albums include collaborations with reputed artists such as Yuja Wang (The Sonata in A by César Franck, in 2019), Martha Argerich (Schumann, released in 2018), and the Paris Chamber Orchestra/Douglas Boyd, Jérôme Ducros (Intuition, 2018). Gautier Capuçon is a true 21st century ambassador for the cello, being also the founder and leader of the “Classe d’Excellence de Violoncelle” at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris – based in the new Auditorium designed by Frank Gehry.
The two musicians performed together with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Created in 1856 and originally named “Orchestre du Nouveau Cercle des Etrangers”, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra now occupies a prominent place in the international music world. Combining tradition and modernity, the orchestra performs both symphonic works from the great classical repertoire, as well as rarely heard compositions, and contemporary pieces from the lyrical and choreographic creation. Numerous world premieres have been created in Monte Carlo since the 1900s, with composers such as Massenet, Puccini, Ravel, Fauré, or Poulenc finding the Orchestra as an ideal partner for performing their works. Contemporary music has also been a constant presence in OPMC seasons, including works by Henze, Dutilleux, Pärt, Lutosławski, Penderecki, Holliger, Ligeti, and Takemitsu. Important names such as Alexandre Hermann, Léon Jehin, Henri Tomasi, Edouard van Remoortel, Igor Markevitch, Lovro von Matačić, Lawrence Foster, Yakov Kreizberg, and Gianluigi Gelmetti have succeeded in conducting the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1856 to the present day. From the 2016/2017 season, Kazuki Yamada was appointed Artistic and Musical Director of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.
photo credit: Cătălina Filip
