Shift, a new trombone concerto by Jimmy López Bellido, receives its world premiere by Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra with soloist Jörgen van Rijen on 14 June. Tarmo Peltokoski conducts the orchestra in a programme that also includes Shostakovich’s Symphony No.10.

Co-commissioned by Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra together with San Francisco Symphony, Shift explores the scientific phenomenon of the Doppler effect. López explains:

“The Doppler effect is the apparent shift in frequency of a wave between a fixed observer and a moving wave source. When the source approaches, the pitch goes up, and when it recedes, the pitch lowers. We experience this phenomenon on a daily basis, but rarely do we actually stop to listen to it… Primarily associated with grand orchestral climaxes and epic themes, the trombone’s soloistic abilities remain yet to be fully explored. Shift is a step in this direction, placing the focus on the kaleidoscopic range of expressive properties that this remarkable instrument is capable of.”