Pēteris Vasks; Violin Concerto no.2 "Vakara gaismā"; Sesim Bezdüz, violin

Orkestra Akademik Başkent DenizBank Konserleri "2. Uluslararası Suna Kan Keman Günleri- 2nd International Suna Kan Violin Days" P. Vasks, Violin Concerto no.2 In the Evening Light Sesim Bezdüz, violin Orhun Orhon, conductor Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks composed his second violin concerto Vakara gaismā ("In Evening Light") in 2020. "The concerto represents the reflection of an older man on his life. It is a contemplative work filled with half-lights and gentle musings. But just when you think Vasks is lulling you into a gentle reverie, he reminds you of the emotional range his music can have. The middle section of the piece moves into more jagged and dissonant territory, as if Vasks is remembering the turmoil of his life. Throughout the work the violin soars above the string orchestra; the concerto concludes in a mood tranquil optimism, with the violin ascending and hovering in the heights. It strikes me that Vasks has composed a musical analogue to Thomas Cole’s great painting “Old Age,” from his series The Voyage of Life. The concerto is nothing less than a tribute to old age, looking back wistfully on life and perhaps with a longing for eternity." Michael de Sapio 23.10.2025 CSO Ada Mavi Salon Ankara