Behind the Scenes with Rodion Shchedrin, Martha Argerich and Mischa Maisky

On the 9th of February 2011, Martha Argerich and Mischa Maisky premiered the Double concerto for piano and cello, "Romantic Offering" composed by Rodion Shchedrin. The title plays with contradictory historical references. At first glance, "offering" reminds of John Sebastian Bach's "Musical Offering" and evokes more some kinds of complex contrapuntic architectures rather than the personal outpouring of a Romantic nature.

All in all, this uncertainty and hesitation provoked by the very title illustrates what a premiere essentially is: an encounter with the unknown. The documentary about the performance of the 9th of February 2011 in Lucerne plunges the audience into this extraordinary adventure as experienced by two of the greatest performers of our time.

Following the world premiere of this double concerto in Lucerne, Martha Argerich and Mischa Maisky were invited to perform Romantic Offering at the 2012 Verbier Festival. Their concert was webcast live on medici.tv.