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The Philadelphians in Concert on WRTI: Akiko Suwanai Plays Prokofiev, May 22, 1 PM

Akiko Suwanai plays the famous Dolphin Stradivarius

This Sunday, May 22nd, WRTI’s Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast brings us a performance from this past April at Verizon Hall of the music of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and Mendelssohn, under the direction of Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado, making his Philadelphia Orchestra debut.

The program begins with a work inspired by one of the plays of William Shakespeare – Tchaikovsky’s The Tempest Fantasy Overture.

Before intermission, one of the outstanding performances of the Orchestra’s 2015-16 season shines the spotlight on Japanese violinist Akiko Suwanai, who delivers a memorable performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, composed at a crucial juncture of his career, when his music increasingly strove for what Prokofiev called a “new simplicity,” certainly apparent in his second violin concerto.

And, after intermission, the work Felix Mendelssohn was inspired to write after a trip to Scotland, his Symphony No 3, the “Scottish,” one of his most popular works.

POICSub22052316AkikoSuwanai.mp3
WRTI's Susan Lewis speaks with violinist Akiko Suwanai.

During intermission, WRTI’s Susan Lewis will speak with both Ms. Suwanai and Maestro Heras-Casado. That’s this Sunday, May 22nd, from 1 to 3 pm.

PROGRAM:

Tchaikovsky – The Tempest Fantasy Overture

Prokofiev – Violin Concerto No. 2

Akiko Suwanai, Violin

INTERMISSION

Mendelssohn – Symphony No. 3 (“Scottish”)

Pablo Heras-Casado, Conductor

Gregg Whiteside is producer and host of The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts on WRTI 90.1 FM in Philadelphia and streaming online at WRTI.org, every Sunday from 1 to 3 pm.

Gregg was the host of WRTI's morning drive show from 2012 until his retirement from WRTI in January, 2021. He began producing and hosting The Philadelphia Orchestra In Concert broadcasts in 2013, joining the Orchestra in Hong Kong for the first-ever live international radio broadcasts from that island in 2016, and in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for two historic broadcasts in 2018. You can still hear Gregg as host of the Orchestra broadcasts every Sunday and Monday on WRTI.