1. Jan-Peter de Graaff - Concert No. 7, for luthéal and orchestra
2. Dmitry Shostakovich - Symphony No. 8
Hannes Minnaar (piano/luthéal), Karina Canellakis (Dirigent)
Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Location - the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
Recording date - Saturday 11 May 2024
The tragic Eighth of Shostakovich
On 12 October 2019, the much-discussed inauguration concert of Karina Canellakis with a beautiful performance of SjostakovitsjShostakovich’s Tenth Symphony ended. Today she returns to the Russian composer with her favorite: the Eighth Symphony. This second ‘war symphony’, written in 1943, is called Shostakovich’s most tragic work. The rulers therefore considered the work to be completely unsuitable for Soviet propaganda. The symphony was banned shortly after the premiere until 1956.
Hannes Minnaar plays piano and luthaéal
The Dutch composer who, when it comes to great gestures and finesse, can compete with Shostakovich is Jan-Peter de Graaff. According to Het Parool, Le café de nuit, an earlier commission of the Saturday Material, already showed his ‘remarkable mastery of the orchestral palette’. Again on commission, he this time answers Hannes Minnaar’s interest in the luthéal, an extension of the wing from the beginning of the twentieth century on which the timbre can be changed with different registers. A nice renewed acquaintance with this special instrument.
