Category:
Symphonic / Orchestral
LEPORELLO & GIOVANNI was commissioned by Artem Chirkov (St. Petersburg Philharmony). The poetic idea was found in Mozarts opera Don Giovanni: a womanizer between gallantry and brutal sexual urge, and his servant Leporello is not a secondary, but also driven by ideas of personal freedom and frivolous phantasies. - The double concerto describes the permanently changing relation between these two men... and it quotes motifs and written by the genious Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. When now the „noble“ double bass meets the „rustic-style“ contrabass-balalaika... then it strikes sparks and several surprises will be kept ready! - Thanks to the two outstanding performers Mikhail Dzyudze (= Leporello) and Artem Chirkov (= Giovanni) for their energetic musicality during the implementation of this unusual rivalry!
Movements: LEPORELLO & GIOVANNI.
Double Concerto for double bass, contrabass balalaika & orchestra
I: Prologue: „Symbiosis & Contrasts“
II: Leporello
III: Giovanni’s Variations about Love
IV: Leporello – The rebell
V: Courtly World – Out of Order
VI: Giovanni’s Serenade
VII: Decent to Hell
Duration: 28 Minutes
Publisher of notes/sheet music: available by the author
, Printed for official publishing in score and parts
, 2019
Instrumentation: Double Bass Solo (in Solo tuning)
Contrabass-Balalaika
Orchestra:
2 Flutes (2nd also piccolo)
Oboe
2 Clarinet in Bb (2nd also Bass Clarinet)
Bassoon
2 French Horns in F
2 Trombones (T B)
Harp
Timpani
Percussion 1+2
1: bassdrum, Triangle, Flexaton, 3 woodblocks, snare drum, Tambourin
2: Triangle, Metal chimes, 3 suspended cymbals, Glockenspiel,
Tamtam, Claves, darabuka (or cajon)
Large String Orchestra
Introduction: LEPORELLO & GIOVANNI was commissioned by the russian double bass virtuoso Artem Chirkov (St. Petersburg Philharmony) who inspired me for a double concerto with the Contrabass-Balalaika. A musical instrument mostly located in traditional folk music and in russian popular music, - but it possesses wonderful qualities for the classical concert hall. I looked for an poetic idea to assign this tense men’s duo.... and found it in Mozarts Opera Don Giovanni (1st performed in Prague 1787): Don Giovanni, the womanizer between gallantry and brutal sexual urge; and Leporello, his servant, who is not a secondary character but also driven by ideas of personal freedom and frivolous phantasies....
The double concerto describes the permanently changing relation between these two men... and it quotes motifs and themes of the opera Don Giovanni written by the genious and immortal Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In cultural history we find the „Don Juan-Archetype“ edited 1000 times by artists of all genres... but they overlooked the highly interesting character of his servant Leporello. When now the „noble“ double bass meets the „rustic-style“ contrabass-balalaika... then it strikes sparks and several surprises will be kept ready! – Thanks to the two outstanding performers of the world premiere Mikhail Dzyudze and Artem Chirkov for their energetic musicality during the implementation of this unusual rivalry!
Dedication: Dedicated to Artem Chirkov, the "Inspirator" of this composition
World premiere:
11.04.2019, Krasnoyarsk (Russia), Transsiberian Art Festival 2019
Performers at world premiere: Artem Chirkov,Double Bass
Mikhail Dzyudze, Contrabass-Balalaika
Siberian State Symphony Orchestra, cond. Vladimir Lande
