Grammy Award winner and Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi gracefully waves his baton, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra applying balanced force as Smetana's The Bartered Bride overture flows in, full of vitality.After several years, this lively and rich opening piece marks the reunion of Paavo Järvi, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and the audience in Beijing. On January 4th, as the first performance of 2025 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, they were joined by young cellist Julia Hagen, bringing dual blessings for the New Year and the Spring Festival.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra has a deep connection with the National Centre for the Performing Arts, dating back to January 2008 when the orchestra, led by Music Director Kurt Masur, performed on the newly opened stage, becoming one of the first world-class orchestras to perform there. Since then, the orchestra has regularly performed for Beijing audiences during the New Year period. While most "New Year concerts" focus on short, concise classical works, the London Philharmonic Orchestra's program design continues to highlight monumental orchestral masterpieces.
On their return to Beijing, the orchestra's dedication remains unwavering. After Smetana's The Bartered Bride overture quickly set the mood, cellist Julia Hagen took the stage to perform Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor with the orchestra. The young Julia Hagen hails from the musical family of Salzburg, Austria. Three founding members of the renowned Hagen Quartet are from this family. Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor fully showcases the cello's expressive range, with Hagen and the orchestra working closely together, from the dramatic first movement to the final movement, which exudes the rhythm of Bohemian dances. As the music gradually slows before the conclusion, the cello and other sections engage in delicate dialogue, leaving a lasting warm impression.
In the second half, the iconic Enigma Variations by the great British composer Edward Elgar was performed. Enigma Variations consists of a broad, distant theme followed by 14 variations, with Elgar using vivid sound portraits to represent 14 different friends, leaving the identity of the "Enigma" as an enduring mystery for listeners. Interestingly, at the same time, the Beijing People's Art Theatre's New Year's play Variations énigmatiques is being staged, inspired by Enigma Variations, where drama and music echo each other, creating an artistic connection that touches the heart. The London Philharmonic Orchestra has recorded multiple authoritative versions of Enigma Variations and is intimately familiar with the piece. Paavo Järvi led the orchestra with clear guidance, bringing a more lucid and fluid quality to the music. In the most famous ninth variation, "Nimrod," the music gradually swelled with intensity, the theme rising from the mist-like soft strings to reach a majestic, powerful climax.
Amidst the audience's applause, Paavo Järvi and the orchestra performed an encore, including the charming Chinese piece A Pleasant Night, which resonated with the audience and paid a sincere tribute to Liu Tianhua, the master of Chinese folk music, on the 130th anniversary of his birth. On January 5th, Paavo Järvi, again with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Julia Hagen, performed three classics: Weber's Oberon Overture, Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.
With that, the National Centre for the Performing Arts' "New Spring Blessings for a Prosperous Year" series reached a new high. By January 22nd, at the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Beijing Performing Arts Center, more than 10 concerts featuring top domestic ensembles such as the China National Chorus, Beijing Chinese Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of National Ballet of China, and China National Opera House will bring the lively spirit of the New Year to Beijing's stage.
Translator: FENG Haoxuan
Reviewer: BAI Jing
