Concert Report

CONCERT REPORT

I attended a concert of Bilkent Symphony Orchestra on November 13 at Bilkent Concert Hall. The concert was for the Commemoration of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The orchestra consists of 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, violoncello, double Bass, flute-piccolo, oboe-english horn, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion and harp. The conductor was Klaus Weise and the mezzo soprano was Aylin Ateş.

The orchestra played “Egmont” Overture , Symphony No.3 “Eroica” in E flat major op. 55 which were composed by Ludwig Van Beethoven and “Kindertotenlieder” composed by Gustav Mahler. “Egmont” Overture, which is one of the famous overtures of Beethoven, includes dramatic elements and characteristics of heroism. Beethoven sets a tragic atmosphere like symphony no 5. and expresses his feelings about enlightenment and darkness, independence and war. Gustav Mahler is known as the 20th century Beethoven due to his dramatic- philosophical music. His well-known work “Kindertotenlieder” is about the death of the famous romantic poet Friedrich Rückert’s two children so the work reflects a mixture of grief and resignation. After “Kindertotenlieder” was performed, orchestra played Beethoven’s Symhony No. 3 “ Eroica” that was the most attractive work of the night for me.

“Eroica” symphony is such an exciting masterpiece that it leaves wonderful images in my mind. It sounds quite different from other composers’ symphonies due to its complexity and length. The image of music being purely for entertainment faced with a new idea that like a symphony could present its composer’s image of the world that is called romanticism which Beethoven was the first composer brought it into music. Beethoven broke all the rules of the classical symphony with “Eroica”. This dramatic work has epic scope and emotional impacts on me.

The first movement of the symphony ( Allegro con brio) starts with two strong introductory chords and cellos introduce the...