QPO's 15-year milestone festival from Thursday

The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) is set to mark its 15-year journey with a three-day grand musical festival from today at the Qatar National Convention Centre's (QNCC) Auditorium 3.

In a statement, QPO noted that it will shine the spotlight on some of its most talented soloists in a concert titled 'Pearls of the Philharmonic'. Breaking away from tradition, this concert will offer a platform to showcase the brilliance of various performers within QPO.

Under the baton of the German conductor Elias Grandy, renowned for his dynamic and precise interpretations, the concert will be a journey through a diverse selection of solo repertoire. From the classical elegance of Mozart to the fiery passion of Ravel, QPO said the programme showcases the orchestra’s versatility and virtuosity.

The lineup of performers include Aura Lorena Manescu, Egle Valute, Shaza Oweda, Georges Yammine, Mohamed Oweda, Jihoon Shin, Mohamed Saleh, Miroslav Stoyanov, Gideon Seidenberg, Richard Alonso Diaz, Alexander Kamenarov, Georgi Varbanov, and Anca Bold.

The programme will include masterpieces such as Carl Maria von Weber’s enchanting overture from 'Oberon', Maurice Ravel’s virtuosic 'Tzigane', and Jules Massenet’s evocative 'Méditation' from 'Thaïs'. The audience will also be treated to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s charming 'Rondo in C Major' and Balys Dvarionas’ poignant 'Pezzo Elegiaco'.

Adding a touch of Latin flair, the concert will feature Enrique Crespo’s vibrant 'Escenas Latinas' alongside Antonio Vivaldi’s timeless 'Violin Concerto in G Minor'. After an intermission filled with musical delights, including works by Beethoven, Weber, Mozart, Morricone, and Reznicek, the evening will conclude with a flourish, leaving the audience spellbound.

The concert’s second day commences with a family-friendly concert titled 'Mozart: A Musical Sitcom', offering a one-of-a-kind musical journey enriched with 18th-century attire and characters from Mozart’s era, brought to life by QPO’s Cinemoon Ensemble and esteemed guests.

Part of concert’s day two brings the audience to the Royal courts of the Renaissance era, immersing themselves in the timeless works of the Baroque period of classical music. The performance will feature compositions by revered European composers who served in Baroque courts, including Bach, Händel, Lully, and Corelli.

Joining forces for this event are QPO’s Doha Baroque Ensemble, along with oboist German Diaz Blanco, bassoonist Daniel Hrinda, and the Qatar Concert Choir, under the baton of conductor and harpsichordist Christoph Teichner.

QPO’s grand finale offers a musical voyage across the globe, showcasing exceptional compositions from every country the orchestra has visited in the past, including Syria, England, the USA, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, and China.