MELODIES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra brings together three distinct musical worlds in this concert, uniting the pinnacle of English Romanticism in Elgar, the irony of the Soviet spirit in Shostakovich, and the unforgettable voice of cinema in Rota. The evening’s soloist is Daniel Hope, widely regarded as one of today’s foremost violin virtuosos. Having made an early debut at the invitation of Anne-Sophie Mutter, and later nurtured under the mentorship of Yehudi Menuhin, Hope has since appeared with leading orchestras and conductors worldwide. As a versatile artist, he is celebrated for profound interpretations of the classical repertoire, for his collaborations with contemporary composers, and for interdisciplinary projects. Through his artistic directorship of festivals and his socially engaged initiatives, he is recognised not only as a violin virtuoso but also as a cultural ambassador.

The programme opens with Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto in B minor, one of the most moving and majestic works in English music history. Combining virtuosic brilliance with lyrical expression, the concerto is regarded as Elgar’s most personal outpouring of emotion. Hope’s refined yet powerful performance will illuminate the full dramatic intensity of this masterpiece. In the second half, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra performs Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony no.6, completed in 1939 and considered one of his most original works for its break with conventional symphonic forms. The concert concludes with Nino Rota’s La Passerella d’addio from the iconic Fellini film 8½ (Otto e mezzo), a reminder of the timeless melodies the composer bequeathed to cinema.