Saxon Shostakovich Days return to Gohrisch and Dresden

(June 2022)

The International Shostakovich Days Gohrisch, which has existed for more than ten years, returns to its home spa town in Germany's region known as 'Saxon Switzerland' between 30 June and 3 July after pandemic interruptions. The special relationship between Dmitri Shostakovich and the town was established when he stayed near Dresden and wrote his 8th string quartet in Gohrisch in 1960, his only major work to be composed outside the Soviet Union. Over the four days numerous chamber music and chamber orchestra works by Shostakovich will once again be performed by both young and renowned performers in Gohrisch’s Concert Barn.

As has been the custom for many years, the Gohrisch Shostakovich Days will be preceded in 2022 by a special concert with the Sächsische Staatskapelle in Dresden including the composer’s first and ninth symphonies. In addition, festival visitors will have the opportunity this year to attend the opening night of the Shostakovich opera The Nose in Peter Konwitschny's production on 2 July at the Dresden Semperoper, and possibly also the symposium accompanying this premiere on 2 and 3 July at the Dresden Academy of Music.

Alongside Shostakovich, featured composers are Sofia Gubaidulina, who turned 90 last autumn, and the Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov who emigrated from his war-torn homeland to Germany and who plans to be present in person for concerts and to receive this year's Gohrisch Shostakovich Prize on 2 July . Furthermore, the event commemorates conductor Michail Jurowski, who passed away on 19 March, after playing a decisive role in shaping the Shostakovich Days in its early years.

Dmitri Shostakovich stayed twice - in 1960 and 1972 - in the spa town of Gohrisch in Saxon Switzerland. During his first stay he composed his eighth string quartet in C minor, op. 110. It is now considered one of his most important works, and it has been proven to be the only work Shostakovich composed outside the Soviet Union. He wrote in a letter to his friend Isaak Glikman: “I lived in Gohrisch near the little town of Königstein, 40 kilometers from Dresden. The area is incredibly beautiful. By the way, that’s the way it should be: the area is called 'Saxon Switzerland'. The creative working conditions have paid off: I composed my 8th string quartet there."

> Festival website


Here is an overview of the Sikorski works to be performed in the concert programmes of the 13th International Shostakovich Days Gohrisch.

29 June 2022
Dresden, Semper Opera House, 8 pm
SPECIAL CONCERT on the eve of the International Shostakovich Days Gohrisch
Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
Vadim Gluzman (violin)
Omer Meir Wellber (conductor)

Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1 in F minor op. 10
Sofia Gubaidulina: Offertorium for violin and orchestra
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9 in E flat major op. 70

30 June 2022
Gohrisch, Concert Barn, 7.30 pm
OPENING CONCERT
Elisaveta Blumina (piano)
Dóra Varga-Andert (flute)
Robert Oberaigner (clarinet)
Moritz Pettke (clarinet)
Members of the Saxon Vocal Ensemble
Matthias Jung (conductor)

Dmitri Shostakovich: "Glory to the Shipbuilders" for mixed choir a cappella (premiere)
Shostakovich/Atovmian:_ Four Waltzes_ for flute, clarinet and piano

1 July 2022
Gohrisch, Concert Barn, 11 am
CHAMBER MATINEE
Eliot Quartet

Sofia Gubaidulina: "Reflections on the Theme B-A-C-H" for string quartet.
Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 9 in E flat major op. 117

1 July 2022
Gohrisch, Concert Barn, 7.30 pm
CHAMBER EVENING in memoriam Michail Jurowski
Vadim Gluzman (violin)
Sebastian Fritsch (violoncello)
Yulianna Avdeeva (piano)

Dmitri Shostakovich: Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor op. 40
Sofia Gubaidulina: "Rejoice!" Sonata for Violin and Cello
Dmitri Shostakovich: Trio No. 2 for violin, cello and piano in E minor op. 67

2 July 2022
Gohrisch, Concert Barn, 7.30 pm
PIANO EVENING
Yulianna Avdeeva (piano)

Sofia Gubaidulina: Chaconne
Dmitri Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue in D major op. 87 No. 5
Dmitri Shostakovich: Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp minor o. op. (completion by Krzysztof Meyer)

3 July 2022
Gohrisch, Concert Barn, 11 am
PERFORMANCE EVENING (AS MATINEE) in memoriam Michail Jurowski
Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
Dmitri Jurowski Conductor
Evelina Dobraceva soprano

Dmitri Shostakovich: Six Poems by Marina Tsvetaeva for alto and chamber orchestra op. 143a (arrangement for soprano and chamber orchestra by Dmitri Jurowski, premiere)
Dmitri Shostakovich: The Human Comedy. Drama music op. 37 (concert version for orchestra by Michail Jurowski, premiere)

> Further information about The Nose in Dresden

Image: © International Shostakovich Days Gohrisch

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