A weekend filled with virtuosity, romance, and symphonic grandeur. Last Friday and Sunday , the Residentie Orkest performed two monumental masterpieces at Amare, featuring violinist Stefan Jackiw and principal conductor Jun Märkl.

Amare ’s program last weekend was all about the grandeur of orchestral sound. Artist-in-residence Stefan Jackiw performed the solo part in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, a work full of passion, lyrical melodies, and breathtaking virtuosity. A special leading role for the violin, in which the soloist and orchestra constantly complement and challenge one another. Klassiek-centraal.be wrote: “The orchestra was not merely a background accompaniment, but a full-fledged partner in dialogue. The musicians listened attentively to Jackiw and responded with great flexibility to his phrasing and dynamics.”
His encore, a movement from Bach’s Violin Partita No. 1, was also phenomenal.

Next, the stage belonged to the entire Residentie Orkest. Under the baton of principal conductor Jun Märkl, Strauss’s monumental *Ein Heldenleben* came to life. From powerful orchestral passages to moments of stillness, with a special role for the violin solos by concertmaster Wouter Vossen. Once again, Klassiek-centraal.be wrote: “Vossen struck exactly the right note: melodious, elegant, and intimate.” Amid the lush orchestral sound, a personal emotional world emerged. It wasn’t virtuosity that took center stage, but the way the violin was given a voice of its own. In this way, the solo provided a human moment of respite within Strauss’s monumental orchestral world.”

Take a moment to savor these beautiful photos, taken by Simon van Boxtel.

Read the full review here.