A concert with Victor Julien-Laferrière may be called World Class. The young French cellist finished at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2017 on a lonely note. Since that breakthrough, he has been causing a stir worldwide, literally from here to Tokyo. At the NNO, he makes his debut with Haydn’s infectious Cello Concerto in D, one of the most infectious pieces in the entire cello repertoire. Of the primal classical composers, Haydn is the most playful: he composed not only to satisfy his patrons, but also for the musicians’ enjoyment of playing. This can be well heard in this work.

The NNO also brings a brand new work by Frisian composer Sipke Hoekstra to its world premiere: a fascinating soundscape full of old and new elements.
The finale is the First Symphony by Johannes Brahms, who with this work followed in the footsteps of the great Ludwig van Beethoven. He did so so convincingly that the work was called “Beethoven’s Tenth” at its premiere. It is a varied piece full of mood changes, with fine parts for every instrument group. Above all, Brahms here proved himself a creator of beautiful, incantatory melodies.