Program

Edward Elgar Cello Concerto

Igor Stravinsky Suite from The Firebird

Conductor

Eva Ollikainen

Soloist

Kian Soltani

This concert will feature music that the Iceland Symphony Orchestra will be carrying on its European tour. Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto is one of the most admired solo works in music history, and here the soloist, Kian Soltani,'s unique mastery of his instrument is fully given room to shine. This emotionally charged music was sparked by the horrors of World War I and the anguish that the conflict created, both in relations between nations and in the minds of sensitive artists such as Elgar himself.

The Firebird is also along for the journey, the vibrant orchestral suite that Igor Stravinsky adapted from his revolutionary ballet that premiered in 1910. This bird springs from Russian folklore, the music is vibrant and uses all the possibilities of a symphony orchestra to the fullest. The work pits good and evil forces against each other, but fortunately everything works out beautifully in the end.