Monumental Finale of the 56th Concert Season in Košice with Works by Berlioz, Brahms and Rachmaninov

​​The State Philharmonic Košice closed this year’s concert season on May 14, 2025, with a spectacular program featuring compositions by Hector Berlioz, Johannes Brahms, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. The concert was conducted by Olivier Ochanine, with Alexei Volodin as the soloist.

Hector Berlioz (1803–1869), the French composer who ushered in the progressive phase of Romanticism, introduced numerous innovations previously unseen, including a new perspective on music's purpose. As a visionary, he influenced many composers with his ideas and compositions.

He astonished both experts and the general public by significantly expanding the orchestra, not only in terms of the number of musicians but also by incorporating previously unused instruments. Most notably, he revolutionized the perception of music as a non-verbal art capable of conveying extramusical narratives through tones and form. His programmatic works were often inspired by literary pieces or personal experiences.

Berlioz composed the Overture “Le Corsaire” during a vacation in Nice in 1844. Its premiere took place in 1845 under the title La tour de Nice ("The Tower in Nice"). Later, it was known as Le corsaire rouge ("The Red Rover," after a novel by James Fenimore Cooper), and finally by the familiar title Le corsaire, inspired by Byron's poem of the same name. However, little is known about the piece's creation, as Berlioz rarely mentioned it, not even in his memoirs.

From the very beginning, conductor Olivier Ochanine impressed with his precise gestures and masterful shaping of the overture’s grand form—an ability that he continued to demonstrate in Brahms’ piano concerto and Rachmaninoff’s symphony.

The Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 by Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) was performed with astonishing virtuosity by Alexei Volodin, a Russian pianist of great international acclaim. Originally conceived in 1854 by the then 21-year-old Brahms as a sonata for two pianos, the musical material eventually grew into a full piano concerto, completed in 1858.

Its 1859 premiere in Hanover, where Brahms himself played the solo part, ended in failure. A second performance five days later in Leipzig met the same fate. The concerto, revised and later performed in Hamburg by Clara Schumannunder Brahms' direction, received a slightly better reception but was still shelved by the composer for years.

Today, this concerto is recognized as a gem of piano literature, demanding a pianist of extraordinary skill and deep musical insight. It challenges the performer with complex rhythms, dynamics, and harmonies, requiring clarity and strength to navigate its dense texture.

Alexei Volodin, winner of the prestigious Géza Anda International Piano Competition in Zurich (2003), fully lived up to these demands. His performance showcased brilliant trills, arpeggios, flawless finger technique, powerful yet sensitive touch, and a serene atmosphere in the slow movement—culminating in a stormy final movement that earned admiration from the audience.

The State Philharmonic Košice was expertly led by Olivier Ochanine, who demonstrated deep understanding of Brahms’ music and nuanced coordination with the soloist.

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943), a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor from an aristocratic family, was one of the greatest virtuosos of his time. Rooted in Romanticism, he distanced himself from the modernist trends of his contemporaries. In addition to his prolific solo piano works and four piano concertos (including the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini), Rachmaninoff also composed in various genres, including symphonic, liturgical, and operatic music (e.g., Aleko).

He wrote his Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13 at his estate in Ivanovka. Its unsuccessful 1897 premiere in St. Petersburg, conducted by Alexander Glazunov (whose alcohol abuse was likely a factor), led to the symphony being forgotten. After Rachmaninoff’s emigration in 1917, the score remained lost until it was reconstructed posthumously in 1944. The symphony was reintroduced in Russia in 1945 at the Moscow Conservatory under Alexander Gauk, and has since found a place in the repertoire of leading European and American concert stages.

Olivier Ochanine, currently principal conductor of the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra in Vietnam and a long-time collaborator of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, is renowned for his success in numerous competitions—including first prize at the Antal Doráti International Conducting Competition in Budapest (2015).

He tackled the challenges of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 1 without hesitation, emphasizing the orchestra’s dynamic movement, highlighting the winds’ crucial roles, and delivering a clear and powerful interpretation. His work with the Košice Philharmonic brought out the symphony’s dramatic tension, especially in the climactic finale.

By Dita Marenčinová