The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, together with the Dortmund Philharmonic, delivered a triumphant performance of the magnificent Rachmaninoff Marathon on Sunday, June 15, met with standing ovations from a packed Konzerthaus in Dortmund. The two orchestras alternated under the batons of Mateusz Molęda and Moritz Gnann, while Gabriel Feltz – chief conductor and the visionary behind the project – ultimately stepped in at the last moment to lead the final concert, bringing both orchestras to a brilliant close of this marathon feat.
From morning until late evening, Dortmund was immersed in an extraordinary musical celebration, with the sounds of Sergei Rachmaninoff reverberating through the Konzerthaus, followed by thunderous applause after each performance. Over the course of three concerts – from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. – the orchestras alternated alongside a lineup of distinguished pianists, performing Rachmaninoff’s piano and symphonic masterpieces, some of the most exquisite pages in all of music history.
The marathon opened at 11 a.m. with the Dortmund Philharmonic led by conductor Mateusz Molęda and pianist Beatrice Berrut, performing the Piano Concerto No. 1 and Symphony No. 1. The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra took over the stage at 3 p.m. in a concert that had long been sold out due to immense public interest. Under the direction of Moritz Gnann, Olga Scheps performed the Piano Concerto No. 2, followed by the Belgrade Philharmonic’s moving rendition of Symphony No. 2, which drew unprecedented ovations from an emotional audience, leaving many in tears.
The day’s exceptional musical undertaking was further heightened by an unexpected turn of events: despite a recent injury, Gabriel Feltz made the bold decision to conduct the third concert. Thus, the joint chief conductor led both orchestras side by side in a majestic finale. The closing chapter of this pianistic tour de force was delivered by Bernd Glemser in a commanding performance of the formidable Piano Concerto No. 3 – the legendary Rach 3, made iconic in the film Shine and widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding pieces ever composed for the instrument.
At the marathon’s grand finish, the performance of Symphony No. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninoff marked a dazzling triumph, as more than one hundred musicians from the Belgrade and Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestras ignited a true musical fireworks display, met with ten minutes of standing ovations. This glorious Rachmaninoff Marathon was a showcase of excellence and a world-class event that Gabriel Feltz, chief conductor of both ensembles, had been preparing for two years. With this monumental project, Feltz concluded his twelve-year tenure with the Dortmund Philharmonic. He was bid farewell in a heartfelt surprise tribute, as the hall resounded with a traditional farewell song performed by all of the musicians from the Konzerthaus stage.
