Concert programme
The Orquestra de València, conducted by Alexander Liebreich, presents a symphonic concert on 17 October 2026 that blends the late Romanticism of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss with the avant-garde of Helmut Lachenmann. The programme includes:
- Prelude to Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): An orchestral fragment that marks a turning point in music history due to its chromatic harmony and emotional intensity.
- Air, for percussion and orchestra (Lachenmann, 1968-69): A key work in the contemporary repertoire, where the German composer explores unconventional sounds—from the brush of drumsticks to silence—as structural elements. The soloist will be Alexej Gerassimez, who will give the Valencian premiere of this piece.
- Sinfonia domestica, Op. 53 (Strauss): An autobiographical composition in which Strauss depicts scenes from his family life with detailed orchestration and moments of irony.
The concert will take place in the Sala Iturbi of the Palau de la Música at 19:00.
Alexej Gerassimez: the soloist
German percussionist Alexej Gerassimez (1989) is a leading figure in the interpretation of contemporary and classical music. Trained at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, his repertoire ranges from minimalist works to his own compositions, such as Beyond Stickability and Arena. Gerassimez combines his role as a performer with that of composer and director of his own percussion ensemble. In this concert, his performance as soloist in Lachenmann’s Air—a work that demands exploring the timbral limits of the instrument—will be one of the highlights.
Practical information
- Venue: Palau de la Música de València.
- Tickets: From €9.50. Available on the Palau’s ticket website.
- Estimated duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes (no intermission).
