InClassica Welcomes Leonard Schreiber and Yeol Eum Son to Star-Studded Concert

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 12 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

Well Tempered Chanson 
Coca Cola Arena

Alexey Shor's cycle ‘The Well Tempered Chanson’ was inspired by the creativity of the folklore of the Soviet era. Confronting urban chansons with unexpected styles, he transforms the songs to such an extent that the original music becomes something completely new. Leonard Schreiber, Belgian violinist, plays the solo part along with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. The second half of the concert is dedicated to Sergei Prokofiev's Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3, the composer's most popular piano concerto, played by Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son. Conducting the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Marius Stravinsky closes the concert with Bedřich Smetana's symphonic poem Šárka.

Leonard Schreiber (violin)
- How was your experience of the concert? “It was a great honour to play in Dubai and with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. I was very excited to play with an Israeli orchestra in an Arab country, that was a really big thing I think. It was all very incredible, we had such a great time. The music was fun, the audience was very warm, and the hall was impressive, such a huge arena.”
 - How did the collaboration with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Marius Stravinsky go? “The rehearsal time was limited, but sometimes as in today’s case that’s actually a good thing. When musicians are too relaxed it becomes boring sometimes, there is no spark, but when everyone is more focused then the energy is really amazing.”
 - What was your approach towards the work you performed today, the Well Tempered Chanson? “It’s the first time for all of us – the conductor, the orchestra, and myself. We had never played this piece before. It’s always exciting to play a piece by a living composer – Alexey Shor – because we can meet him and ask him a few questions. Most of our time we play pieces by composers who are dead and when they’re alive you can connect and ask and enjoy the experience together. It’s very nostalgic and from the heart and that’s the most beautiful thing about music – it’s universal.”
 - How did you find everything from an organisational perspective? “It was a pleasure. Everyone here is so kind and helpful, the organisation is incredible. They are making everything easier for us despite the challenges of performance”.

Yeol Eum Son (piano)
 - How did you enjoy the performance? “I enjoyed it tremendously, it was a great experience and everything was really overwhelming”
 - How was the experience working with the orchestra and conductor? “Very very good, I must say. It was really very comfortable playing with them, and, although we only had one rehearsal, I think we managed it well.”
 - What are your thoughts on the festival generally? “It’s an amazing festival. I’ve been to many festivals in the world, but this is something really remarkable, very different from any other.”
 - How has your experience been here in Dubai with the organisers? “Everyone was extremely friendly, and I want to thank everyone so much for everything.”

Marius Stravinsky
 - "I'm glad to be here. I am glad to meet new talented musicians. We have already met with Leonard Schreiber on the same stage, this is the first time we are performing with Yol Eum Son. I am glad to cooperate with you. I must say that this is a wonderful festival and thank the organisers. The spirit of camaraderie, the spirit of friendship between musicians reigns here. I think this is a very important aspect. I'm glad to be here."

Quotes From Those in Attendance: 

“It was my first time coming here for a classical music concert. I must say it sounded really good, they changed the arena somehow and it really worked well” — audience member

“Such a wonderful evening. We’ve been left without any cultural events for so long because of Covid. It’s just lovely to be able to listen to live classical music again” — audience member

“The programme was wonderful. Schreiber played wonderfully in the first part although I’d never heard the piece before, but it was really nice to hear. And Yoel Eum Son was just amazing as always. Wonderful to be here”  — audience member 

Tonight at InClassica*

Brilliant and Cheerful Mozart 
Coca Cola Arena

Turkish star pianist Fazıl Say is the soloist in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's brilliantly orchestrated and cheerful Piano Concerto No, 21 that many refer to as Elvira Madigan, because of Bo Widerberg's film. The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Dmitry Jablonsky plays Mozart's concert along with Gioachino Rossini's famous overture to La gazza ladra, said to have been written by the composer on the very same day of the premiere, and Johannes Brahms's Symphony No. 2 that was received enthusiastically by the audience at the inauguration and is nowadays one of his most cherished compositions.

- Fazıl Say (piano)

- Dmitry Yablonksy

- Jerusalem Symphony 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.