The Slovak Philharmonic under Daniel Raiskin’s baton

SF  Daniel Raiskin_Jean F Neuburger 26 04 2018 © jan.f.lukas  (2)

The 71st concert season of the Slovak Philharmonic continues with symphonic concerts on Thursday and Friday 21 and 22 November 2019 under the baton of Daniel Raiskin.

A graduate of the St. Petersburg Conservatory who furthered his studies in masterclasses with Mariss Jansons and Neeme Järvi. At the age of 20, Daniel Raiskin left the USSR and continued his studies in Amsterdam and Freiburg. At present he is the Music Director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Belgrade Philharmonic, Artistic Partner of the Finnish chamber orchestra St. Michel Strings, as well as a guest conductor of many European concert halls and opera houses. From the 2020/2021 season onwards Daniel Raiskin will take over the position of Principal Conductor of the Slovak Philharmonic.

 “I have been privileged to perform regularly with the passionate and highly talented musicians of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra for more than a decade. Whether in Bratislava or on tour, in concert or in recording sessions– I have always admired the openness, dedication and curiosity of this traditional ensemble. This is an orchestra with its’ very own voice, and I feel honoured and excited about the opportunity to develop our artistic relationship even further!” Daniel Raiskin

Daniel Raiskin will appear with the Slovak Philharmonic as conductor of three concert programmes within the 2019/2020 season. The present first pair of concerts features works by Russian composers, with the reputable Russian pianist known for his brilliant technique Alexei Volodin as a soloist. He will perform the Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 by Sergei Rachmaninoff, which has become the most popular of his piano concertos. The composer wrote the work at the turn of two centuries, from 1900 to 1901.  The premiere took place in Moscow in 1901 under the direction of Alexander Siloti with the 28-years-old composer playing the solo part. The second half of the concerts will be filled with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29, named the “Polish“  after its Finale in majestic polonaise rhythm.The concerts open with the Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes, op. 47 No. 1 by the Russian composer of Polish-Jewish origin Mieczysław Weinberg, whose centenary is commemorated in 2019. Mieczysław Weinberg, a friend of Dmitri Shostakovich, is one of the most significant personalities of 20th century Russian music.

The concerts start at 7 p.m.