Igudesman & Joo's show "Joyful Variations" is a humorous ode to Beethoven's 9th Symphony and two decades of musical mischief written, composed, and conceived by Aleksey Igudesman & Hyung-ki Joo.

Prepare to embark on a riotous journey, celebrating both the bicentennial of Beethoven's iconic 9th Symphony and the uproarious duo, Igudesman & Joo, who have spent two decades merrily shaking up the classical music world. Together, they're presenting a symphonic spectacle that promises to paint a mischievous grin on every face in the concert hall.

At the heart of this rollicking soirée is Igudesman's magnum opus, the "Joyful Variations." Imagine a high-voltage rollercoaster ride through the ninth Symphony's timeless themes, each variation bedazzled with national fervor and cultural flamboyance from nine diverse countries. This musical kaleidoscope whirls you around the globe, from Bonn to the USA, with pit stops in Asia, Ireland, the Middle East, Spain, Eastern Europe, Africa, North America, South America, and finally, right back to your own plush concert seat.

Though Beethoven's oeuvre is a treasure trove of musical gems, time is a fickle friend. To solve this temporal puzzle, Igudesman & Joo have reduced Ludwig's masterpieces, not in quality, but in price. And in time, of course. In "A Little Bit Hoven," you'll bear witness to all ten symphonies in less than two minutes – a feat even Usain Bolt would find impressive!

Then, brace yourselves for the uproarious "Happy Concerto," where Hyung-ki Joo effortlessly segues from Tchaikovsky's timeless piano concerto to the catchy "Hey Jude" by The Beatles. This rendition is something even Tchaikovsky himself would have “let into his heart”.

What happens to Igudesman and the orchestra when they are at the mercy of Joo’s merciless zapping of a remote control, switching from one concerto to the next?
In “Where is the Remote Control”, this dystopian scenario becomes a hilarious reality, with the entire orchestra coming to a screeching halt as the remote control breaks.

And to top off the joy, Igudesman & Joo perform arguably the most Joyful song of the century: "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. But, of course, Igudesman & Joo’s unique spin involves delightfully mischievous mashups of Mozart and Strauss that turn this feel-good anthem into an even more joyful experience.

https://igudesmanandjoo.com/

Distribution available on EUROARTS
https://www.euroarts.com/