Nicolas Altstaedt gives the worldwide premiere of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Cello Concerto No.2 Labyrinths of Life with Bamberger Symphoniker on 8 March. Taking its inspiration from a poem by Spanish lyricist Federico García Lorca, the work is described as follows by publisher WiseMusicClassical: 

“Three movements of the concerto are played attacca. The first one, Dark, explores the low register of the cello, finally ​‘reaching its heights alongside explosive orchestral passages’. The second movement, titled Deep, brings the soloist to introspection, which the orchestra then takes over and therefore solves the crisis. Finally, Light represents inner liberation and the joy it brings, ending with an airy and ethereal soundscape.”

The programme under the baton of Thomas Dausgaard also includes Arvo Pärt’s Silouan’s Song and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5.

The concerto has been co-commissioned by Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, with an upcoming performance on 17 May in the Estonia Concert Hall together with Chief Conductor Olari Elts, and by Philharmonia Orchestra, with whom Altstaedt performs the work in the 2024/25 season.