Lauded Talent Daniel Lozakovich Lands in Dubai for InClassica's Penultimate Evening

InClassica 2021 is the biggest and most ambitious music festival to ever take place in the Middle East, welcoming a staggering 37 world-renowned soloists, 7 celebrated orchestras and 11 leading conductors to Dubai for a 30-day celebration of sublime musicianship, world-class performance and international collaboration. InClassica is pleased to present the biggest names in classical music today, featuring performers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, for an unrivalled programme of phenomenal concerts taking place at the Dubai Opera and Coca-Cola Arena. The festival features a range of music from distinguished historical European composers, as well as works from the event’s Composer-in-Residence, Alexey Shor. 

Last night at InClassica

Fantastical Violin Dreams
Coca-Cola Arena

Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 is known by people around the globe, with the first movement Morgenstemming i ørkenen ("Morning Mood”) and the fourth movement I Dovregubbens Hall (“In the Hall of the Mountain King”) used in so many films and adverts that the music is recognised even by those who never heard Grieg's name. In contrast to the images of Nordic nature that the music often illustrates in adverts, "Morning Mood" depicts a sunrise on the African coast. “In the Hall of the Mountain King” is a description of Norwegian myths that takes place in the hero's fantasy. When, in 1879, Pyotr Tchaikovsky saw Ivan Samarin's production of his opera Eugene Onegin, he was so delighted that he dedicated a composition for string orchestra to the famous actor and director. The short work became known as Elegy for Ivan Samarin, and is of such beauty and sincerity of feeling that it serves as a perfect example of the emotional depth of Tchaikovsky's music. The same can be said about his Violin Concerto, a piece written during a turbulent time for the composer. Under the baton of Mikhael Pletnev, Daniel Lozakovich is the soloist in this masterpiece as well as in Alexey Shor's recently composed Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in B minor. Shor frequently seeks inspiration in the music of the past, his works a joyful expression of strong melodies, tonal harmonies and traditionally based orchestration — defining factors that make them sound both familiar, yet excitingly new.

Daniel Lozakovich (violin)
“It was an amazing experience to play with such a maestro as Mikhail Vasilyevich [Pletnev], for me this is one of the best musicians not only today, but also of all time. This is the first time I am collaborating with him as a conductor, before that we had the experience of a trio. Every time I communicate with the maestro, I learn a lot about music and about life in general. I am very proud and it is a great honor for me to perform with such a great musician. Today we performed the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in B Minor by Alexey Shor, which I really liked. It is very lyrical, which is rare for modern music. I am very glad that there are such people who can write such beautiful music and I am glad that I can play it, it inspires me.”

Quotes From Those in Attendance: 

“Really amazing evening. Lozakovich is such an unbelievable talent. It was a real joy to watch him perform” — audience member

“It’s great that organisations like the EUFSC and SAMIT are bringing such great artists and orchestras here in Dubai. To be able to see Lozakovich, Pletnev and the RNO live all in one place is just incredible and I hope there will be even more of this in the future” — audience member

“A big well done to all involved. I came here to Dubai just for this concert, and I wasn’t sure what to expect but it’s all been great. I think it’s a sign of great things to come, so thank you very much for this evening, and well done to all the wonderful musicians and to the organisers who’ve made this happen” — audience member

Tonight at InClassica*

Grand Finale
Coca-Cola Arena

Denis Matsuev is considered one of the best pianists in the world and the most important contemporary representative of the Russian piano school. As such, Matsuev plays Sergei Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3 which was an immediate success at its première in 1909 and has been one of the most cherished piano concerts of the 20th century, ever since. Conducted by Alexander Sladkovsky, the Russian National Orchestra, renders Rachmaninov's virtuoso piece together with Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, valued as one of the best symphonies by the composer and counted among the most played compositions of the late 19th century.

• Denis Matsuev (piano)
• Alexander Sladkovsky 
• Russian National Orchestra

*Full details (including quotes from performers and attendees) will be available tomorrow. For any enquiries regarding tonight’s performance, please contact us.

Organised by the European Foundation for Support of Culture and SAMIT Event Group, the 2021 Edition of the InClassica International Music Festival is currently underway, with daily concerts taking place until the 26th of September. For more information or to book tickets, please visit the official website at inclassica.com.