A few years ago, organists Iveta Apkalna and Olivier Latry separately approached Esa-Pekka Salonen to write an organ concerto. Instead of disappointing either player Salonen decided to write the work Sinfonia concertante for organ and orchestra to be shared between these two titans of the organ world.
The world premiere will be with NOSPR in Katowice on January 13 with Iveta Apkalna and conducted by Salonen in a concert celebrating the inauguration of the new organ for the NOSPR Concert Hall.
Further performances by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra on January 19 and Orchestre de Paris on January 25 are conducted by Salonen with Olivier Latry.
Iveta Apkalna returns to the work for performances with NDR at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg on May 11 and with LA Phil on May 18.
The final commissioned performance will be given by Olivier Latry in Helsinki with FRSO in a future season.
