Journey to the New World

From the Carpathians to the American plains, this program reveals the power of Central European folk traditions and their imprint on three major composers.

Ligeti stylizes their timbres and colours in his Concert Românesc, a dreamy homage to the melodies of his childhood. Bartók, in his Violin Concerto no. 2, sculpts a fascinating dialogue between incandescent lyricism and asymmetrical folk rhythms—a work of irresistible vitality brought to life by Leila Josefowicz. As for Dvořák, he transposes the spirit of his native Bohemia into his New World Symphony, a song of exile and hope that has become one of the repertoire’s towering masterpieces. Under Alain Altinoglu’s inspired direction, this journey unfolds in vivid colour, between deep roots and distant horizons.