Tchaikovsky & Strauss

The stage is bursting with energy today. Stefan Jackiw, violinist and our artist-in-residence for the 2026–2027 season, takes on Tchaikovsky’s exuberantViolin Concerto—a lyrical, demanding, and irresistibly expressive work. Afterward, Chief Conductor Jun Märkl continues his grand German Romantic journey this season with Strauss’s monumentalEin Heldenleben. An orchestra of over a hundred musicians, rich colors, and release in every bar: unforgettable.

Tchaikovsky’s only violin concerto demands complete surrender: dancing melodies, astonishing technique, and an emotional directness that are in safe hands with soloist Jackiw. Strauss’sEin Heldenlebenis an absolute must-hear. A compelling musical self-portrait; loving serenity and a lush return to tranquility (after having battled his critics). In this piece, Strauss openly weaves in quotes from his own earlier works, as if the hero were looking back on his musical life. Concertmaster Wouter Vossen’s impressive violin solos color the heroic figure from within. The result is an overwhelming listening experience in which virtuosity, orchestral grandeur, and personal stories converge.