About the programme
The concert marks the return of German violinist Antje Weithaas to the Amsterdam Sinfonietta as guest concertmaster. She will also perform as soloist in Stravinsky’s Divertimento for string orchestra, for which he drew inspiration from the Russian master Tchaikovsky.

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.3 is a deeply Romantic work. The emotional funeral march from the third movement moved the audience to tears at its première. In Le baiser de la fée, the ballet written by Stravinsky to mark the 35th anniversary of Tchaikovsky’s death, the composer incorporated melodies by Tchaikovsky, making it far more Romantic-sounding than his other work.

During a visit to Japan in 1958, Stravinsky happened to hear Takemitsu’s Requiem for string orchestra and was hugely impressed by the young composer’s passionate style of composing. The meeting of the two composers signalled Takemitsu’s international breakthrough.

Programme
Takemitsu - Requiem for string orchestra
Stravinsky - Divertimento for violin and string orchestra
Tchaikovsky – String Quartet No. 3 (version for string orchestra)

Amsterdam Sinfonietta
Antje Weithaas, direction & violin