Ticket sales start
4 June 2025 (ZH)
25 August 2025 (GE)
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CLASSICS 180° – What to expect
Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo have come up with something new for their programme ‘Sound New World’: a trip to the ‘New World’ in the footsteps of Antonín Dvořák. With plenty of humour and enthusiasm, the duo reveal the African-American and indigenous influences that inspired Dvořák to write his 9th Symphony. And who better to support them than The Limitless Orchestra, the ensemble of unlimited possibilities?
‘Sound New World’ is an 80-minute orchestral adventure.
TU, 25*11*25
ZURICH, 7:30 PM
SU, 26*10*25
GENEVA, 6:00 PM
Limitless: this term serves as both the name and artistic motto of the Limitless Orchestra. The Vienna-based ensemble was founded in 2024 by musical jack-of-all-trades and exceptional violinist Aleksey Igudesman. Just as Igudesman has been exploring the boundaries between classical, pop and film music for years, the orchestra has also set itself the goal of overcoming listening habits. An important building block in this concept is the collaboration with Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer. In January 2025, the program "Global Waltzing" with music by Johann Strauss and Zimmer premiered in Dubai. The orchestra also presents new arrangements of classical compositions ("Classical Reloaded"), a Beethoven program ("Joyful Variations") and a musical journey around the globe ("The Seven Continents").
To describe Aleksey Igudesman as merely a violinist would be a gross understatement. Although the son of a Russian musician couple completed a traditional education in London and Vienna, he soon set about expanding his field of activity considerably. He published violin schools, began composing − orchestral works, chamber music and film scores – and made documentary films himself. His artistic trademark is his mix of styles: Igudesman is not only a master of the classical repertoire, but also of klezmer, jazz and popular music. His music comedies with pianist Hyung-Ki Joo are particularly successful. He has also made a name for himself as the co-founder of the "Music Traveler" app (together with Julia Rhee); an app and online platform which allows musicians to book practice rooms. And he recently founded his own specialist ensemble, the Limitless Orchestra.
As Aleksey Igudesman’s stage partner, you can be anything − except a one-track musician. Hyung-ki Joo is much more than just a pianist: he composes, conducts, creates new concert formats and has a great sense of humor. All this at the highest level, as demonstrated by his collaborations with artists such as Yehudi Menuhin, Mischa Maisky and the Alban Berg Quartet − but also with Billy Joel, Hans Zimmer and John Malkovich. As a classical pianist, Joo, who grew up in England, has a repertoire ranging from classical to modern; he recently performed Rachmaninov’s 2nd Piano Concerto with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. And above all this, one must not forget the sought-after chamber musician and song accompanist who conceived a brilliant portrait program for the soprano Asmik Gregorian.
The Limitless Orchestra, newly founded by violinist and conductor Aleksey Igudesman, conceives its programmes as ‘orchestral adventures’ in which music incorporates other performing arts with boundless creativity. On their Swiss tour, Igudesman and his musicians present a fascinating new version of the ‘New World’ Symphony, one of Dvořák's best-known works. For this occasion, the Limitless Orchestra delves into the fascinating combination of Czech and Native American influences that inspired Dvořák and formed the basis for a new musical tradition.
"It will probably be somewhat American," said Antonín Dvořák about his 9th Symphony, which he wrote in 1893, shortly after his arrival in the "New World". The work does indeed contain numerous allusions to the music of the Native American Indians and the African-American population. Typical of Dvořák, who as a Czech in the Habsburg Empire was himself a member of a minority: He was not interested in the white mainstream, but in the culture of the marginalized. In this respect, the Ninth, with its dreams and aspirations, struggles and conflicts, can be heard as a portrait of the USA: a state that still has its future ahead of it.