The Oradea State Philharmonic will present on Thursday the world premiere of the work 'Sinfonia breve - In the Spirit of Joseph Haydn,' composed by Werner Schulze, in the presence of the Austrian composer, during a symphonic concert conducted by Andrej Vesel.

According to a philharmonic press release, the work has a strong connection with the composer's spiritual and artistic mentor, Jeno Takacs (1902-2005). Fascinated since 1981 by a work dedicated to the memory of Haydn composed by Takacs, Schulze had wished for more than four decades to create a symphony in the same style. The project took shape at the beginning of 2025 and the result will now be presented for the first time to the Oradea audience.

'Sinfonia breve' was written following the classical symphonic model and consists of four movements: Passacaglia. Maestoso, Scherzo. Allegro vivace, Andante grazioso and Finale. Allegro con spirito.

To recreate the sound of Viennese classicism, the composer chose a reduced orchestration similar to that used by Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Schubert. Thus, 'Sinfonia breve' enters into a direct musical dialogue with the tradition of the great classical symphonies.

Under the title 'Crossroads Concert,' with pianist Stefan Arnold as guest artist, Thursday's programme will offer music lovers a complex image of music through four different compositional reflections, each unique in its own way. From the classical Haydn to the turbulent style of Beethoven, through to the folk-inspired music of Kodaly and the contemporary music written by Werner Schulze.

Following the performance of the Fifth Symphony, Werner Schulze's 'Sinfonia breve' will be presented, followed by Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 45 ('Farewell') and, after the interval, Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Galantai tancok (Dances of Galanta) by Zoltan Kodaly.

The title 'Crossroads Concert' and the selected compositions highlight the idea of encounter and interference between different eras, styles and musical concepts. Music appears as a space of cultural and artistic confluences, where past and present constantly intersect. 'Music has always represented an intersection of multiple artistic ideas from the past and the present,' the philharmonic's release reads.

Werner Schulze (74) is an Austrian composer, musician and poet, former professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and founder of the International Harmonic Centre. His body of work includes symphonies, stage works, lieder and chamber music, focusing on the philosophy and theology of art, inspiration from ancient Greece and the relationship between dance, music and language. He collaborated with the Indonesian ensemble Teater Tetas, which he artistically directed between 2011 and 2017.

In the research area, he has published numerous studies and delivered international lectures on topics such as Pythagorean Platonism, philosophical theology and music theory. He has also written dramas, poems and short stories and has received multiple awards for his artistic and scientific activity.

Stefan Arnold is a German pianist acclaimed for his artistic expressiveness and virtuosity. Trained in major European musical centres, he distinguished himself through prizes won at numerous international competitions. He has performed on major world stages such as the Philharmonie Berlin, Musikverein Wien and Suntory Hall Tokyo, collaborating with prestigious orchestras and conductors. Alongside his concert career, he has also been a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, actively involved in training young musicians. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Eugenia Pasca; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)