Oscar Jockel was awarded the Herbert von Karajan Prize as a conductor and composer, and has held prominent positions in prestigious ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Ensemble intercontemporain. The programme he brings us evokes strong national identities. This is the case with Khatchaturian's Violin Concerto, where the exoticism of Armenian melodies meets powerful Russian-influenced rhythms. An excellent excuse for the debut at Casa da Música of the multi-award-winning Serbian violinist Nemanja Radulović, the performer of choice for this captivating work. The programme includes Stravinsky's famous ballet The Firebird, in which fantasy intersects with Russian folk melodies in one of the most vigorous and brilliant works of the 20th century.