"Art destroys silence. Hindemith, Schnittke and Shostakovich, three 20th century compositions of astonishing expressive power to avert, following Shostakovich's words, the danger of burying the tragedy of the Shoah in silence.
On Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 at 9 p.m., on the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Concert of the Orchestra of the University of Milano-Bicocca will be held in Milan at the Church of Santa Francesca Romana (Piazza Santa Francesca Romana).
Participation is free of charge until the maximum number of seats available is reached.
"I have my music, and it is quite a lot, and it is by it that people should judge me" (Dmitri Shostakovich)
Paul HINDEMITH, Trauermusik for viola and string orchestra (1936)
Alfred SCHNITTKE, Monologue for viola and string orchestra (1989)
Dmitri SHOSTAKOVICH, Chamber Symphony for string orchestra Op. 110a from Quartet No. 8 (1960)
Iakov Zats
Born in Moscow where he attended the Conservatory's Institute for Wunderkind Children, graduating as a violist and obtaining a doctorate in quartet. In 1992 he founded the New Moscow Chamber Orchestra. In 1994 he moved to Italy where he was a regular guest of concert seasons as a soloist. He collaborates as first viola with some of the best-known conductors in the European musical tradition, including Riccardo Muti, George Prêtre, Carlo Maria Giulini, and with various orchestras, such as I Solisti di Mosca, the Orchestra Sinfonica G. Verdi of Milan and the Orchestra Filarmonica Toscanini of Parma. In 2000 Claudio Abbado invited him to take part in the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Since 2006 he has been first viola in the Fondazione Arena di Verona. In 2011 he participated as first viola in European tours of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Jurowski. In 2006 he revisited Ysaye's Sonata op.28, editing the first edition for solo viola, for the White Prince Edition. Since 2006 he has participated as preparatory conductor in the Pescara Orchestral Master Class and in the same capacity has worked with the orchestra of the Summer Prague Academy. In Italy he conducts the Ensemble of the Accademia del Talento di Desio, that he founded, as well as the Orchestra of the University of Milano-Bicocca.
The Orchestra
The Orchestra of the University of Milano-Bicocca was founded in 2009 under the patronage of the Magnifico Rettore as an initiative of students and professors of the University. Since its foundation, it welcomes students, professors, alumni, employees, and all those who wish to give their musical and human contribution to the activities of the University Orchestra. The Orchestra, under the leadership of Maestro Iakov Zats, is active in the area by promoting cultural and social initiatives, scientific conferences, activities of Milanese organizations and associations, and cultural exchanges with other universities in Europe with its events. During past seasons, the Orchestra, in collaboration with the Choir of the University of Milano-Bicocca, has offered a repertoire ranging from Mozart's Violin Concertos to Beethoven's and Grieg's Piano Concertos, from Mozart's Requiem to Beethoven's Coriolanus, from Saint-Saens's Carnival of the Animals to his Christmas Oratorio, from the concertos of Mendelsson and Brahms to the string serenades of Elgar and Tchaikovsky, often featuring prominent performers, including Roman Fedchuk, Vsevolod Dvorkin, Danilo Mascetti, Alexey Lundin, Chong Park, Anton Martynov, Franco Mezzena, Elena Revich, and Denis Shapovalov.