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Doha, Qatar: From moments of deep engagement to energizing applause that echoed throughout the Katara Opera House, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra delivered an evening of symphonic excellence on Saturday, treating audiences to two of classical music’s most celebrated masterpieces in its “Classic Hits: Sibelius & Tchaikovsky” concert.
Held at Katara Cultural Village and conducted by the renowned German-Japanese maestro Elias Grandy, the concert featured internationally acclaimed 22-year-old violinist Luka Faulisi. Together with the orchestra, he showcased technical precision, musical unity, and emotional depth. Grandy, known for his passionate yet clear conducting style, guided the ensemble through works by Jean Sibelius and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, taking the audience on a journey from rich symphonic depth to an overwhelming sense of intensity and thrill.
The evening opened with Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47, the Finnish composer’s only concerto and one of the most celebrated violin concertos of the twentieth century.
Composed between 1903 and 1905, the work blends symphonic writing with striking virtuosity, allowing both soloist and orchestra to shine across its contrasting movements.
Faulisi deeply captivated the audience, earning sustained applause that brought him back on stage for an encore. He performed one of his personal favorites, his solo arrangement of “Louisiana Blues Strut (A Cakewalk)”, an unaccompanied violin piece by American composer Coleridge-Taylor.
He thanked the audience for what he described as a “warm welcome”, noting it was his first time in Qatar, bringing the first half of the evening to a lively close.
After a short intermission, the orchestra returned for Tchaikovsky’s monumental Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36, a deeply personal work exploring the struggle between fate and happiness.
It opened with a “Fate” motif, and the four movements gradually unfolded through reflection, nostalgia, and playful energy before reaching a finale inspired by a Russian folk tune, celebrating resilience and hope.
Some performers also shared their experience on stage. Swiss-Lebanese violinist Rim, a founding member of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra who has been with the ensemble for nearly 18 years, said each performance continues to bring new energy and excitement for both musicians and audiences.
She described this performance as “so exciting that I felt like my bow was going to break.”
She added, “It is always exciting, especially this big symphony that we played tonight, Tchaikovsky. We’ve played it several times, but the best part of the music is that there’s always something new and different. We play it in a different way with a different conductor.”
Rim also noted that the musicians could sense the audience’s enthusiasm from the stage. “We really felt the vibes of the public,” she said with a smile. “I gave it my all, really, a hundred percent, and it was nice to feel that love from the audience.”
The audience shared the same sentiment. One attendee said, “Words simply could not do the performance justice,” while another praised the orchestra’s “energetic and ecstatic performance,” adding that the “musicians’ passion was evident from the start to the final chord.”
The evening concluded with a prolonged standing ovation as applause echoed beyond the Opera House. The audience continued cheering for the musicians, with some presenting flowers to the performers, bringing the concert to a memorable close and highlighting the enduring appeal of live orchestral music in Qatar.
