Romeo, Juliet and the Struggles of an Era

Under the baton of conductor Barbara Dragan, three composers from a time of upheaval are brought together in a program where music becomes a spark of freedom. Composed at the pivotal moment of his return to the Soviet Union, Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” emerged from the tension between personal artistic ambition and political constraint, carried by expressive melodies and a strikingly modern tone. Shostakovich’s “Piano Concerto No. 1”, written before Stalinist censorship, captivates with its bold dialogue between piano and trumpet, brought to life by Gabriela Montero. Grażyna Bacewicz’s “Symphony No. 2” combines tension and light, revealing a powerful creative force.