Mozart, Mendelssohn, Elgar, Grieg by candlelight

On February 17, the historic St. Catherine’s Church, located in the very heart of Kyiv, will host an exquisite evening dedicated to the works of four musical geniuses: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn, Edward Elgar, and Edvard Grieg. The program will be performed in an atmospheric acoustic hall by the National Chamber Ensemble "Kyiv Soloists."

Conductor: Volodymyr Sirenko

The program centers on the evolution of the string orchestra style, from early Mozart to the late Romanticism of the North. Mozart’s Divertimento K. 137, composed in Salzburg around 1772, is one of the three early "Salzburg Symphonies" for strings. Despite its genre title, it is closer to a chamber symphony: featuring three movements, strict forms, and a surprising harmonic maturity for a sixteen-year-old composer.

Mendelssohn’s String Symphony No. 10 continues the "apprentice" lineage. This single-movement, concentrated work by the fourteen-year-old author was created as an exercise in counterpoint, yet it already bears a distinct Romantic impulse—a dramatic minor key, rapid mood shifts, and a transparent, almost Bach-like introduction that leads into an energetic Allegro. Alongside Mozart, this piece demonstrates how differently these two prodigies perceived form and drama.

Elgar’s Serenade introduces a different world—intimate English lyricism of the late 19th century, written by a composer who was himself an accomplished violinist. The three movements form a miniature cycle: the gently pulsating Allegro piacevole, the deeply lyrical Larghetto (often considered the emotional heart of the work), and a bright, slightly nostalgic finale. The entire piece rests on delicate texture, cantabile melodies, and a characteristic "English mist" of harmony.

The finale is Grieg’s "Holberg Suite"—a tribute to the Baroque suite and the figure of Ludvig Holberg. It is also an early manifestation of Neoclassical consciousness: Grieg utilizes ancient dance forms (Sarabande, Gavotte, Rigaudon) but infuses them with Romantic harmony, Norwegian melodicism, and his signature lush string sound. Following Elgar’s English softness, this suite sounds like a stylized "Baroque ball" set against Scandinavian landscapes—from the brilliant Prelude to the majestic Aria and the virtuoso Rigaudon.

Program:

W. A. MOZART Divertimento in B-flat major for Strings, K. 137

1. Andante

2. Allegro di molto

3. Allegro assai

F. MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY String Symphony No. 10 in B minor, MWV N 10

1. Adagio – Allegro – Più presto

E. ELGAR Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20

1. Allegro piacevole

2. Larghetto

3. Allegretto

E. GRIEG "From Holberg's Time" Suite, Op. 40 (Version for String Orchestra)

1. Prelude: Allegro vivace

2. Sarabande: Andante

3. Gavotte: Allegretto – Musette

4. Aria: Andante religioso

5. Rigaudon: Allegro con brio

ATTENTION! Access to St. Catherine’s Church (22 Lyuteranska St.) for both pedestrians and vehicles is available strictly from the Khreshchatyk Street side.