Festival X WIENIÄ! Devil's Temptation - God's Answer

Nova Orchester Wien’s opening performance at the festival weaves together the mystique and majesty of music into a fantastical story. The name of Paganini has for centuries been associated with legends about a deal with the Devil. The complexity of his music that defies the limits of human capability still intrigues and seduces the listener. Sergei Rachmaninoff took this mystical inheritance and created his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini: a masterpiece that takes the listener on a journey to the peaks of emotion with its intensive themes and enchanting variations. As soloist is heard the virtuoso pianist Alexander Malefeev, who has already previously charmed audiences in Mikkeli with his masterful interpretations.

The second part of the evening consists of Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, a monumental composition that has also been hailed as ”The 10th symphony of Beethoven”. With its deep and powerful tones, this work offers a beautiful contrast to the mystique of Paganini: like an exalted answer to the temptation of the Devil. Chief conductor William Garfield Walker leads the orchestra on a journey of music that combines the emotional evocativeness of the Romantic era with great dramatic tension. Starting off the program is the joyous and festive Academic Festival Overture by Brahms that sets the mood for an unforgettable evening.

Tickets to this event are sold at lippu.fi. More information available on the Festival X website.

Kesä 2025