Landesjugendorchester Hamburg

• Classical Music

The Landesjugendorchester Hamburg (LJO Hamburg) has been an integral part of the young music scene for over 55 years as the select orchestra of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The patron of the ensemble is the First Mayor, Dr Peter Tschentscher.




In its working phases, the symphony orchestra devotes itself to major works of orchestral literature as well as programmes with smaller ensembles or contemporary works. This year’s autumn concert under the direction of Johannes Witt will feature the work »Aufbruch«, composed in 1986 by Detlev Glanert especially for the LJO Hamburg (then still the Hamburg Youth Orchestra). Glanert, who is now in demand all over the world and was himself a member of the youth orchestra at the time, composed the piece practically to fit the orchestra at the time. The Hamburger Abendblatt described the work after the premiere with the words: »Glanert’s stylistically ›forward‹ music is full of eruptive and lyrical ideas, organically developed in context and skilfully orchestrated.«

Directly afterwards, the programme features Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony, a blockbuster that the Russian composer composed in 1937 under pressure from the Stalin regime. Shortly beforehand, he had fallen out of favour with his opera Lady Mcbeth of Mtsensk« due to his overly progressive compositional technique and now had to adapt outwardly. Whether grotesque ländler, furiously noisy march or mournful themes – Shostakovich created a parody of the triumphalism of the time, which the audience at the premiere certai»nly recognised, while the party leaders celebrated the return of the prodigal son with this symphony. A fallacy, as can also be seen from the musical quotations used in the symphony. Although Shostakovich was deeply connected to the Russian people and their culture, his progressive ideas under Stalinism meant that he himself always had to fear for his life and that of his family – he subtly expressed his demand for humanity and dignity through his music.

The LJO Hamburg is organised by the Landesmusikrat in der Freien und Hansestadt Hamburg e. V. and is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Media.

PERFORMERS

Landesjugendorchester Hamburg orchestra

Johannes Witt conductor

PROGRAM

Detlev Glanert
Aufbruch op. 11

Dmitri Schostakowitsch
Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47