Listen to Yannick Nezet-Seguin conduct The Philadelphia Orchestra in a concert from October, 2014 at Verizon Hall. During this re-broadcast, you'll hear works by two Russian masters - Alexander Glazunov and Sergei Rachmaninoff - composed within a few years of one another at the end of the 19th century. You'll hear the energetic and lilting final movement of Glazunov’s ballet The Seasons, and Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony, the premiere of which Glazunov conducted (and not so well, by various accounts).
Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, a titan of later Soviet music, is represented in this concert right between his Russian forefathers with his fiery Piano Concerto.
As a promising prodigy who was championed early on by leading Romantic composers, and who lived long enough to inspire eminent younger ones, Glazunov bridged the Russian and Soviet periods of his native country's musical history. The Seasons is heir to a great tradition cultivated by Tchaikovsky for the Russian Imperial Ballet, and its final movement, "Autumn," offers colorful fireworks alternating with atmospheric dances.
Rachmaninoff enjoyed an especially long and close relationship with The Philadelphia Orchestra and remarked that he often composed with the sound of the ensemble in his head. This season, the Orchestra performs all three of his symphonies, beginning with Symphony No. 1 this Sunday afternoon.
Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, a titan of later Soviet music, is represented in this concert right between his Russian forefathers with his fiery Piano Concerto. The work appeared as part of the 40/40 series this season - works that have not been heard on subscription concerts in at least the last 40 years (or ever). The only earlier Philadelphia performances of the Concerto were in the 1940s with soloist William Kapell. Sunday's soloist is another ardent champion of the piece - French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, who has made it a staple of his repertoire.
That's Sunday, July 26 from 1 to 3 pm on WRTI 90.1 FM or online at wrti.org. I hope you'll join us!
PROGRAM:
Glazunov: "Autumn" from The Seasons
Khachaturian: Piano Concerto
INTERMISSION
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Yannick Nezet-Seguin, conductor
