Dvořák: Symphony No.9 From the New World I Alex Shimel Symphony Orchestra of the Dnipro Philharmonic

Live concert recording from the Grand Hall of the Dnipro Philharmonic, Ukraine. Recorded during wartime, 26 April 2025. Antonín Dvořák – Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” 0:00 I. Adagio. Allegro molto 9:56 II. Largo 21:37 III. Scherzo: Molto vivace 29:12 IV. Finale: Allegro con fuoco Performed by the Dnipro Philharmonic Academic Symphony Orchestra in the Grand Hall of the Dnipro Philharmonic. Conductor — Alex Shimel (Aleksandras Šimelis, Lithuania) Today, the city of Dnipro lives under the constant shadow of war, close to the frontline of one of the darkest chapters in modern European history. Even during rehearsals or concerts, nobody can be certain that the moment will not be interrupted by air-raid sirens or missile attacks. Yet despite this daily danger, the musicians of the orchestra continue to come to the stage with remarkable courage and dignity, choosing music as an act of humanity, inner freedom and spiritual resistance. For the people of Dnipro, these concerts have become far more than cultural events. They are spaces of hope, emotional survival and human connection in the midst of war. In this reality, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” gains an especially profound meaning. Its music carries a longing for home, peace, light, human dignity and the dream of a better future — values that deeply resonate in today’s war-torn Ukraine. Historically, Dvořák composed this symphony while reflecting on identity, homeland and the meeting of different worlds and cultures. Today, in wartime Ukraine, this music acquires yet another layer of meaning: it reminds us that even in the darkest periods of history, humanity continues to seek beauty, faith and spiritual light. The emotional and philosophical spirit of Dvořák’s music is transmitted through the orchestra musicians directly to the audience gathered in the concert hall. In such moments, music becomes more than art — it becomes a vital force helping people preserve inner strength and hope. May the day come soon when only music will be heard instead of sirens, and when people can once again live peaceful and dignified lives.