Concerts concluded with Ukrainian national anthem
In light of the shocking recent developments in Ukraine, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra dedicated the concerts on 3, 4 and 6 March to the victims of this terrible war. The concerts, led by Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, concluded with a performance of the Ukrainian national anthem, Ще не вмерла України (‘Glory and freedom of Ukraine are not yet lost’).
Concertgebouw Orchestra performs Ukrainian national anthem
The programme also included Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, Concertstuk for violin and orchestra by Dutch composer Henriëtte Bosmans and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 12, ‘The Year 1917’. The question arose whether the programme should be changed because of political connotations, but after careful discussions with the orchestra musicians and conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali it was decided not to change it. While the repertoire is connected to political events in the past, the programme has no relation to the current war in Ukraine.
The concert on Thursday, 3 March was streamed live through Concertgebouworkest.nl and the orchestra’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
