Skopje, 12 April 2024 (MIA) — At a candlelit stage and conducted by Gjuegjica Dashikj, the Profundis chamber orchestra will give its first-ever "Candlelight" concert of works by Antonio Vivaldi, Niccolò Paganini, Gustav Holst, and Philip Glass, featuring violinist Mario Hossen as soloist.

According to organizers in a press release, stages lit with "the warm glow of candles" are a worldwide trend they are bringing to Macedonian audiences for the first time. "The intimate setting allows for a deeper connection between the audience and the performers, creating an extraordinary concert experience," they say, adding that Profundis aims to be an innovative, creative and modern chamber orchestra.

"This time through a candlelit concert, which is currently is a real attraction in 173 cities worldwide and this concert, for the first time, puts Skopje on that list," organizers say.

The Austro-Bulgarian violinist Hossen will perform "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi as well "I Palpiti" by Paganini, which is rarely performed as it requires "technical virtuosity and is one of the top 10 most difficult pieces to perform on the violin," according to organizers.

Hossen is hailed for his incredible virtuosity and charismatic stage presence, playing a repertoire spanning renaissance, classical music and jazz. He is also considered as one of the leading interpreters of Paganini’s music.

He has released 22 CDs for the Italian label Dynamic and for Doron Music Switzerland. His discography includes all concertos of Niccolo Paganini, Max Bruch, Felix Mendelssohn, Johannes Brahms, the Paganini complete "Quartets," the "Violin Sonatas" of Beethoven, J. S. Bach and G. F. Handel, as well as world premiere recordings of unreleased works by Paganini, Mozart, Tartini, Rolla and Mercadante.

Hossen plays a G.B. Guadagnini violin (1749), loaned to him by the Austrian National Bank.

Profundis was founded three years ago by several prominent Macedonian musicians who are members of the National Opera and Ballet and the National Philharmonic. mr/