NSOI: Maxim Vengerov plays Mendelssohn

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
Kristian Sallinen, conductor 
Maxim Vengerov, violin 

Sibelius En Saga
Bartók Divertimento for Strings 
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto 

Maxim Vengerov, ‘one of the greatest violinists in the world’ (The Courier), makes an unmissable return to National Symphony Orchestra Ireland with the vivacious love-letter that is Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.

A cornerstone of the repertoire, a masterpiece of lyricism and innovation, and a bravura showpiece for violin and orchestra alike who share passionate melodies and dazzling virtuosity. Its elegant, expressive surface beauty disguises the emotional sophistication and fiery technical brilliance beneath.

Inspired by Finnish folklore, Sibelius’s tone poem, En Saga, conjures a mysterious, Nordic landscape through haunting melodies and shifting moods. By turns melancholic, noble, romantic and heroic, it’s an atmospheric journey into myth.

Shifting from buoyant energy to brooding lyricism and ending with dance-like exuberance, Bartók’s Divertimento for Strings bursts with rhythmic vitality, captivating Hungarian folk accents, and delightfully inventive textures contrasting soloists and ensemble in an homage to the Baroque concerto grosso. 

Acclaimed in his native Finland as ‘a super-talented new conducting star’, Kristian Sallinen makes a welcome return to the podium for what promises to be a memorable evening.

Presented by NCH