Symphonic Concert

The Bursa Regional State Symphony Orchestra presents an exquisite program that brings together two stalwarts of classical music history. The concert will feature the elegant and compelling Cello Concerto No. 1 by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns and the 3rd Symphony, a significant work of German Romanticism, by Johannes Brahms.

Saint-Saëns's Cello Concerto No. 1 is esteemed as a flawless synthesis of virtuosity and lyrical expression. Transcending the conventional concerto structure with its single-movement form, the piece captivates the audience from its energetic opening through its emotive middle section to its exhilarating finale. In this concerto, the cello’s powerful and compelling tone is elevated to a different dimension by the soloist’s mastery.

Brahms's 3rd Symphony is one of the composer’s most characteristic pieces with its profound and introspective narrative. The forceful chords at the opening convey the intense drama that permeates the music, while the second movement offers a serene atmosphere with its graceful melody. The third movement features one of romantic music’s most renowned and melancholic themes, and the finale transforms the music into a sort of inner reflection, completing the symphony with a tranquil yet impressive closure.

Marie Hallynck

Regarded as one of the leading cellists of her generation. She has performed at prestigious venues such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Vienna Musikverein, London Wigmore Hall, and New York Carnegie Hall. She has played as a soloist with over 50 orchestras in Europe, the USA, Korea, and Turkey and has collaborated with major ensembles like the Saint Petersburg and Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestras.

In chamber music, she has appeared with artists like Vadim Repin, Martha Argerich, José Van Dam, Janine Jansen, Misha Maisky, and Renaud Capuçon, and has founded the Kheops Ensemble with Muhiddin Dürrüoğlu. Completing her education in Paris, the USA, and Stuttgart, she has been honored with numerous international awards, including the Eurovision Competition and the Maria Canals Competition. In 2001, she was chosen as a “Rising Star” by the European Concert Hall Organisation and awarded the title of “Soloist of the Year” by the Belgian Music Press the following year.

She has award-winning recordings that include works by composers such as Schumann, Grieg, Debussy, and Shostakovich. Hallynck, who serves as a professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, performs with a Matteo Goffriller cello crafted in 1717.

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Renowned as one of the most prolific and innovative figures of 19th-century French music, Saint-Saëns was a composer who succeeded in adding elegance and refinement to music while preserving classical forms. Recognized as an extraordinary talent from a young age, he was respected not only as a composer but also as a pianist, organist, and musicologist. With his concertos, symphonies, and notably the opera Samson and Delilah, he secured a lasting place in the music world. Cello Concerto No. 1 is considered a masterpiece of the Romantic period and a pinnacle of the expressive power of the solo instrument.

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
One of the foremost figures of German Romanticism, Brahms is celebrated for works that unite classical form with emotional intensity. Seen as a continuation of Beethoven’s legacy, Brahms reached one of the highest echelons of music with his symphonies. His 3rd Symphony is among his most poignant works, reflecting the composer’s inner world with its rich orchestral colors and strong melodic structure, representing the zenith of romantic music.

This special concert promises an unforgettable night as it unites two of the most potent expressions of classical music.