Postira

Program

Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Duo for violin & cello in D major

I. Poco adagio
II. Tempo di menuetto
III. Allegro

Erwin Schulhoff (1894–1942)
Duo for Violin and 'Cello
I. Moderato
II. Zingaresca
III. Andantino
IV. Moderato

Jean Sibelius (1865–1957)
Canon for violin and cello

Hannah Kandinsky, violin
Ana Šincek, cello

Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Joseph Haydn stands as one of the most influential and prolific composers of the
18th century. Born in the small Austrian village of Rohrau, Haydn’s musical gifts
emerged early. By the age of eight, he was singing in the choir of St. Stephen’s
Cathedral in Vienna, where he spent nearly a decade immersed in music, though
with little formal instruction in theory. After his dismissal due to a voice change,
Haydn supported himself through various musical jobs, studying the works of C.P.E.
Bach and learning composition under Nicola Porpora. Haydn’s career took a decisive turn in 1761 when he was appointed Vice-Kapellmeister to the wealthy Esterházy family. Over nearly 30 years of service, he composed an extraordinary range of music—operas, symphonies, string quartets, and more than 150 works for the baryton, Prince Miklós Esterházy’s favorite instrument. His time at the Esterházy court was marked by innovation, humor, and emotional depth, earning him the titles “Father of the Symphony” and “Father of the String Quartet.” Haydn’s influence extended far beyond the Esterházy court. His later years were marked by two triumphant visits to London, where he composed some of his most celebrated symphonies, including the “Surprise,” “Military,” and “Clock” symphonies.
Inspired by Handel’s oratorios, Haydn composed two monumental works: The Creation (1798) and The Seasons (1801). Haydn’s legacy is vast: over 100 symphonies, 68 string quartets, 47 piano sonatas, 14 masses, and numerous operas, concertos, and chamber works. His music laid the foundation for the Classical style and deeply influenced contemporaries and successors alike, including Mozart and Beethoven.

Erwin Schulhoff (1894–1942)
Erwin Schulhoff was born in Prague on June 8, 1894, into a German-speaking Jewish family. Schulhoff was encouraged early on by Antonín Dvořák, who recognized his prodigious talent. He studied with Max Reger in Leipzig and later with Fritz Steinbach in Cologne, winning the prestigious Mendelssohn Prize at just 19. His experiences as a soldier on the Russian and Italian fronts during World War I deeply shaped his artistic outlook. After the war, Schulhoff immersed himself in Dadaism and surrealism. A passionate jazz enthusiast, he infused classical forms with ragtime, foxtrots, and even banjo, as heard in works like the Suite for Chamber Orchestra and Hot Sonata.

Throughout the 1920s and ’30s, Schulhoff’s music was performed across Europe by leading conductors including Erich Kleiber and Václav Talich. He sought to bridge Czech and German cultures through music, even as his political convictions led him toward communism. His later works, such as Das Manifest, reflect this ideological commitment.

Declared “degenerate” by the Nazi regime, Schulhoff was arrested in 1941 after applying for Soviet citizenship. He died of tuberculosis the following year in Wülzburg prison camp. Long overlooked, his music has since been rediscovered and celebrated for its wit, rhythmic vitality, and fearless originality.

Jean Sibelius (1865–1957)

Jean Sibelius, born on December 8, 1865, in Hämeenlinna, Finland, is widely regarded as the most significant symphonic composer of Scandinavia. His music, deeply rooted in Finnish identity and mythology, helped shape the national consciousness during a time of political and cultural awakening.

Sibelius was educated at the Finnish Normal School, where he first encountered the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic. This mythological source would inspire many of his most evocative works, including Pohjola’s Daughter (1906), Luonnotar (1913), and The Swan of Tuonela (1893). Though initially destined for a legal career, Sibelius abandoned law studies in Helsinki to pursue music, studying composition under Martin Wegelius and later in Berlin and Vienna with Robert Fuchs and Karl Goldmark. His first major orchestral work, the Kullervo Symphony (1892), caused a sensation and established him as a leading voice in Finnish music. This was followed by a series of tone poems and symphonic works that reflected both his Romantic roots and his growing individual style.

After 1925, Sibelius entered a long period of silence, composing little but remaining
a revered figure in Finnish cultural life. He died on September 20, 1957, in Järvenpää.