Staatsphilharmonie Subscription Concert 3 – Shostakovich/Strauss (Pfalzbau)

Staatsphilharmonie's Friday Subscription Series

For decades, the Friday Subscription Series has been the backbone of the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz's concert season in Ludwigshafen. Held at regular intervals throughout the season, it brings the orchestra to the Pfalzbau concert hall with various conductors and soloists. The 3rd Friday Subscription Concert of the 2026/27 season is musically particularly significant, uniting two central works from the 20th-century symphonic repertoire.

Julian Rachlin: A World-Class Violinist

The soloist is Julian Rachlin, one of the defining violinists of his generation. Born in Vilnius and trained in Vienna, with performances alongside all the world's major orchestras – Rachlin combines virtuosic technique with a distinct musical personality. His viola playing is as sought-after as his violin playing, and he is increasingly engaged as a conductor. In Ludwigshafen, he will perform Shostakovich's demanding Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77.

Shostakovich: A Torn Masterpiece

The Violin Concerto No. 1 was composed between 1947 and 1948 but remained unperformed until 1955, as it was deemed politically too risky in the Soviet Union. It is a conflicted, dark, and highly intense work that inscribes the composer himself into the soundscape with the famous DSCH motif. Dedicated to David Oistrakh, it is considered one of the great violin concertos of the 20th century.

Strauss: A Cheerful Family Portrait

The second part of the program offers a contrast: Richard Strauss's Sinfonia domestica, Op. 53, is a grandly orchestrated, cheerful, and affectionate work that sketches a day in the family life of the Strauss household in Berlin – complete with bath music for the son and marital disputes between the parents. Orchestrally, it is a feast of color, and a challenge for conductors requiring detailed work. Michael Francis represents a modern, sonically sensitive approach.

Matinee Variant on November 8

For those unable to attend on Friday evening, a matinee version of the concert, featuring the same program and generally the same performers, will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11 AM.