Hans Graf, Leonidas Kavakos & NSO
This section contains events that exceed the display area. You can use the up and down arrow keys of the keyboard or the mouse wheel to browse.
PROGRAM
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44
INFO
Internationally renowned conductor Hans Graf teams up with one of today's violin masters, Leonidas Kavakos, to present one of the "big four" violin concertos—Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major. When first composed, its technical difficulty was so immense that the legendary violinist Leopold Auer famously deemed it "unplayable." Yet, time has proven otherwise. The rich, expressive violin lines and the monumental orchestral accompaniment have become a favorite of audiences, who are captivated by the fiery, radiant interplay between the soloist and orchestra.
Continuing in the vein of Slavic tradition, the concert will also feature a rare performance of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3, composed nearly thirty years after his Symphony No. 2. This late work reflects a more refined and unique orchestral language. Under the baton of Hans Graf, this symphonic gem will be brought to life in all its grandeur and complexity. A night of masterpieces by two of the greatest composers—this is a concert not to be missed!
【A Pre-concert Talk will be held before the performance.】
Lecturer: Wen-Pin CHIEN
Time: 2025/12/14 Sun. 14:00-14:20
Venue: National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) Concert Hall lobby
For further information, please click here.
ARTISTS
This section contains musicians that exceed the display area. You can use the up and down arrow keys of the keyboard or the mouse wheel to browse.
Hans Graf, conductor
Leonidas Kavakos, violin
National Symphony Orchestra
Conductor／Hans Graf
Known for his wide range of repertoire and creative programming, the distinguished Austrian conductor Hans Graf is one of today's most highly respected musicians. With Hans Graf, "a brave new world of music-making under inspired direction" (The Straits Times) began at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, where he was appointed Chief Conductor from the 2020/21 season, and Music Director from the 2022/23 season.
Graf was formerly Music Director of the Houston Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Basque National Orchestra and the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. Hans Graf's extensive discography is found on the EMI, Orfeo, CBC, Erato, Capriccio and JVC labels and includes all the symphonies of Mozart and Schubert, the complete orchestral works of Henri Dutilleux (recorded under the composer's supervision), and the world-premiere recording of Zemlinsky's Es war einmal. Graf's semi-staged production of Berg's Wozzeck with the Houston Symphony won the GRAMMY and ECHO Klassik awards for best opera recording.
Born near Linz in 1949, Graf studied conducting with Franco Ferrara, Sergiu Celibidache and Arvid Jansons. He is Professor Emeritus for Orchestral Conducting at the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg. For his services to music, he was awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur by the French government and the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold from the Republic of Austria.
Violin／Leonidas Kavakos
Leonidas Kavakos is recognised across the world as a violinist and artist of rare quality, acclaimed for his matchless technique, his captivating artistry and his superb musicianship, and the integrity of his playing. Kavakos works regularly with the world’s greatest orchestras and conductors and appears in recital at the world's premier recital halls and festivals. In recent years, Kavakos has built a strong profile as a conductor and has conducted such orchestras as New York Philharmonic, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Dallas Symphony, Vienna Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Filarmonica della Scala.
Kavakos's award-winning discography includes the Beethoven Violin Concerto (Sony Classical) which he conducted and played with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, and the re-release of his 2007 recording of the complete Beethoven Sonatas with Enrico Pace, for which he was named ECHO Klassik Instrumentalist of the Year. In 2022 Kavakos released 'Beethoven for Three: Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale" and Op.1, No. 3' arranged for trio, with regular recital partners Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma. Further albums from this series containing arrangements of Beethoven Symphonies will be released in coming years. With his chamber group the ApollΩn Ensemble, he recently released 'Bach: Violin Concertos' on Sony Classical to critical acclaim.
Born into a musical family in Athens, Kavakos curates an annual violin and chamber music masterclass in Athens, which attracts violinists and ensembles from all over the world. In 2022, he was declared a regular member of the Chair of Music in the Second Class of Letters and Fine Arts for his services to music. Kavakos plays the 'Willemotte' Stradivarius violin of 1734.