Ondrej Adámek and Beethoven | London Symphony Orchestra

Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony finds its 21st century counterpart, as Sir Simon Rattle and Magdalena Kožená gives the UK premiere of Ondrej Adámek’s Where are you?

‘Where are you? I’m looking for you in lightning, in thunder, in hailstorm…in song, in dance, in wine!’ The idea that nature can heal and fulfil is as old as music itself – whether it’s Beethoven, drawing solace and strength from the woods and fields in his radiant ‘Pastoral’ symphony, or the narrator of Ondrej Adámek’s stunning new work, premiered tonight by Magdalena Kožená.

And just as Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony embraces every aspect of country life – from birdsong and brooks to thunderstorms and folkdance – so Adámek’s spiritual quest takes him from the rustic faith of his Moravian roots to the sacred poetry of Catholicism, Judaism and the Bhagavad-Gita. Critics at the world premiere in Munich in March described Where Are You? as “unforgettable and moving”; conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, it’s a thought-provoking counterpoint to Beethoven’s timeless beauty.