“From the New World” – Nostalgia IV – Gstaad Festival Orchestra I

It’s quite hard to imagine that just a few centuries ago, vast parts of the world were still uncharted. Driven by boundless curiosity, courageous explorers ventured out to uncover “new” lands. Antonín Dvořák must have felt a similar thrill of discovery when he arrived in America in 1892 to take up his role as Director of the newly founded National Conservatory in New York. During his three-year stay, he composed some of his most celebrated works, including the monumental Symphony No. 9. Deeply inspired by the musical traditions of the New World – particularly African American Spirituals and Native American songs – Dvořák’s symphony also carries a heartfelt, perhaps subconscious, longing for his Bohemian homeland. For this season’s opening concert with the Gstaad Festival Orchestra, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla has curated a programme rich in contrasts. She pairs Dvořák’s vision of America with a journey to the vibrant landscapes of South America, centred around Gabriela Montero’s “Latin” concerto. Written in 2016, this work by the Venezuelan pianist and composer dismantles “stereotypes” and, as Montero explains, offers a “chiaroscuro view” of Latin America. Through stark contrasts, it reveals a world where “not everything beyond rhythm, charm and sensuality glows with golden light.”