ROMANTIC ROYALTY: TCHAIKOVSKY and CHOPIN

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1 2017/18 SEASON CLASSICAL SERIES ROMANTIC ROYALTY: TCHAIKOVSKY and CHOPIN Friday and Saturday, November 24-25, 2017 at 8 p.m. Sunday, November 26, 2017 at 2 p.m. Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts YOAV TALMI, guest conductor ANDREW TYSON, piano BORODIN CHOPIN Overture to Prince Igor Concerto No. 2 in F Minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 21 I. Maestoso II. Larghetto III. Allegro vivace ANDREW TYSON, piano INTERMISSION TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, op. 74, Pathétique I. Adagio - Allegro non troppo II. Allegro con grazia III. Allegro molto vivace IV. Finale: Adagio lamentoso The 2017/18 season is generously sponsored by SHIRLEY and BARNETT C. HELZBERG, JR. The Classical Series is sponsored by Friday s concert sponsored by JOHN and JACKIE MIDDELKAMP Saturday s concert sponsored by SUZANNE SHANK and MARTIN SMOLER Additional support provided by KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY 21

2 PROGRAM NOTES by Ken Meltzer The beautiful and rousing Overture to Prince Igor features melodies from the opera, based on an early Russian epic poem. ALEXANDER BORODIN ( ) Overture to Prince Igor (1887) (completed and orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov) 10 minutes Piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and strings. In 1869, the Russian music critic Vladimir Stasov suggested to Alexander Borodin that he create an opera based upon a 9th-century Russian epic poem, The Story of the Expedition of Igor. Other commitments prevented Borodin from devoting his full efforts to the opera. When Borodin died in St. Petersburg in 1887 at age 53, Prince Igor remained incomplete. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov assumed the task of completing Borodin s opera. Prince Igor received its premiere at the Maryinsky Theater in St. Petersburg on November 4, The opera s patriotic themes, beautiful melodies and lush orchestration immediately captured the imagination of the audience, promising Prince Igor an important place in the Russian operatic repertoire. The opera takes place in Russia in The story concerns the heroic efforts of Prince Igor and his son, Vladimir, to defeat the Polovtsians and their leader Khan Konchak, who are marching against the city of Putivl. The opera opens with a beautiful, rousing overture, featuring melodies from the ensuing lyric drama. Borodin never committed the overture to paper, but did play a piano version of it for his friends, including Glazunov, who reconstructed and orchestrated the work. RECOMMENDED RECORDING Borodin: Overture to Prince Igor London Symphony Orchestra / Georg Solti, conductor Label: London/Decca Legends Catalog # /18 Season

3 PROGRAM NOTES by Ken Meltzer FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN ( ) Concerto No. 2 in F Minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 21 ( ) 30 minutes Solo piano, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, trombone, timpani and strings. During the period in which Frédéric Chopin composed this concerto, he was in the midst of an infatuation. The young pianist and composer had fallen hopelessly in love with a fellow student at the Warsaw Conservatory, a soprano by the name of Constantia Gladkowska. For whatever reason, Chopin chose not to reveal his feelings to the young woman. Instead, he poured his heart out to his dearest friend, Tytus Woyciechowski. In a letter to Woyciechowski, Chopin confessed: Perhaps to my misfortune, I have met my ideal and have served her faithfully for six months, without speaking to her about my feelings. I dream about it: under her inspiration, the adagio [i.e. the slow movement, actually marked Larghetto] of my Concerto Chopin, one of the greatest pianists of his era, was the soloist in the 1830 premiere of his Second Piano Concerto. The Concerto culminates with music in the spirit of the mazurka, a lively Polish dance in triple meter. in F Minor and, this morning, the little waltz [opus 70, No. 3 in D-flat] that I m sending you, have been born. No one will know about it, except you. The premiere of the Second Concerto took place at the National Theater in Warsaw on March 17, 1830 with Chopin making his Warsaw concert debut as the soloist. The concert was a critical success. One writer, referring to the great Italian violinist, dubbed Chopin the Paganini of the piano. The concerto is in three movements. The opening movement features two principal themes, first introduced by the orchestra, and later repeated in far more elaborate fashion by the soloist. The central slow-tempo movement was inspired by Chopin s youthful infatuation for Gladkowska. The finale evokes the spirit of the Polish mazurka, a lively dance in triple time, serving as the basis for numerous engaging flights by the soloist. KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY 23

4 PROGRAM NOTES by Ken Meltzer RECOMMENDED RECORDING Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 Emanuel Ax, piano Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy, conductor Label: RCA Silver Seal Catalog # Tchaikovsky died nine days after conducting the 1893 premiere of his Pathétique Symphony. Tchaikovsky confessed that the story depicted in his Pathétique Symphony was so intensely personal that as I was mentally composing it on my travels I frequently wept copiously. PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY ( ) Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, op. 74, Pathétique (1893) 45 minutes Piccolo, 3 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam and strings. Tchaikovsky led the world premiere of his sixth and final symphony, the Pathétique, in St. Petersburg on October 28, Nine days later, he was dead, at age 53. For years, the accepted explanation of Tchaikovsky s demise, first advanced by his brother, Modest, was that the composer died as a result of Russia s cholera epidemic. Throughout his life, Tchaikovsky frequently suffered from depression. On at least one occasion, he attempted to kill himself. In recent decades, evidence has surfaced that Tchaikovsky may have committed suicide, perhaps in order to avoid public humiliation over an illicit relationship. A consensus on this volatile issue is unlikely. Nevertheless, it is difficult to listen to Tchaikovsky s final symphony and not sense the composer s premonition of his own demise. As Tchaikovsky confided to his nephew, Vladimir Davïdov, to whom he dedicated the Pathétique : Whilst I was on my travels I had an idea for another symphony, a programme symphony this time; but the programme will be left as an enigma let people /18 Season

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6 PROGRAM NOTES by Ken Meltzer guess it for themselves. This programme is so intensely personal that as I was mentally composing it on my travels I frequently wept copiously. Whatever program Tchaikovsky intended for his sixth symphony, he chose a unique road for its musical journey. Tchaikovsky s fourth and fifth symphonies both depictions of struggles with fate conclude with rousing, triumphant finales. However, Tchaikovsky informed Davïdov: Formally there will be much that is new in this symphony, and incidentally the Finale won t be a loud Allegro but, on the contrary, a very slow-moving Adagio. Tchaikovsky realized his departure from symphonic convention might well hinder the work s acceptance. Indeed, the premiere of the Pathétique (a nickname suggested by Modest Tchaikovsky) was far from a triumph. The critics and audience no doubt bewildered by the work s frequently morbid tone and unconventional structure offered a lukewarm reception. Still, Tchaikovsky maintained faith in his new symphony, and informed his publisher: It s not that it displeased, but it produced some bewilderment. As far as I m concerned, I take more pride in it than in any other of my works. The Symphony opens with a pensive introduction that foreshadows the principal Allegro non troppo. The fierce battle depicted in the central portion of the opening movement finally resolves to a peaceful close. Instead of the traditional slowtempo second movement, Tchaikovsky substitutes a leisurely dance. The music is in the character of a waltz, but set in a 5/4 meter that conveys a sense of unease even, perhaps, of disorientation. The third movement is a vigorous march that is propelled to a stunning close. After a final struggle, the slowtempo closing movement fades to heartbreaking silence. RECOMMENDED RECORDING Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 Leningrad Philharmonic / Yevgeny Mravinsky, conductor Label: DG The Originals Catalog # /18 Season

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9 About YOAV TALMI, guest conductor ONE OF ISRAEL S MOST CELEBRATED AND DISTINGUISHED CONDUCTORS on the international scene, Yoav Talmi is head of orchestral conducting at Tel Aviv University s Buchmann-Mehta School of Music and conductor emeritus of the Quebec Symphony. He is in demand worldwide for concerts and master classes throughout Europe, the United States, South America and Israel. In addition to his 13-year tenure as artistic director of the Quebec Symphony, he has served as chief conductor of the Hamburg Symphony and principal guest conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, as well as music director of the San Diego Symphony, the Arnhem Philharmonic (Netherlands) and the Israel Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, he was the first music director of the New Israeli Opera. Talmi s European engagements include all the major London orchestras, the Berlin Philharmonic, Amsterdam s Concertgebouw, the symphony orchestras of Vienna and Prague, the philharmonic orchestras of St. Petersburg, Oslo, Stockholm, Warsaw and Israel, the Orchestre National de France, Zurich s Tonhalle, Rome s Santa Cecilia, and numerous radio orchestras in Israel, Europe and Scandinavia. He also has appeared with the NHK Symphony and the New Philharmonic Orchestra in Japan. In North America, Talmi has appeared with the orchestras of Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Montreal, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Seattle, St. Louis and Vancouver, as well as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa). His summer festival appearances have included Aspen, Chautauqua, Houston s Mostly Mozart, Puerto Rico s Casals, Bergen, Helsinki, Jerusalem and Montreal s Festival de Lanaudière. A seasoned recording artist, Talmi has collaborated with Chandos, Decca, EMI, Naxos, Teldec, CBC Records, Atma and Analekta. His recording of Bruckner s Ninth with the Oslo Philharmonic won the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque in Paris. Born in Israel, Talmi is a graduate of the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel Aviv and The Juilliard School. He holds an honorary doctorate from the Laval University in Quebec and has received many honors including the Frank Pelleg Prize from the Israeli Cultural Ministry. In 2009, he was named Officer of the National Order of Quebec, the most prestigious honor in French Canada. KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY 29

10 About ANDREW TYSON, piano HAILED BY BBC RADIO 3 AS A REAL POET OF THE PIANO, ANDREW TYSON is emerging as a distinctive and important new musical voice. Tyson s 2017/18 highlights include his Vienna Konzerthaus debut with the Haydn Philharmonic Orchestra, performances with the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Kansas City Symphony and Boise Philharmonic, and recitals at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Miami International Piano Festival, and on the Gilmore Rising Stars Recital Series. A 2013 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, Tyson is also a laureate of the 2012 Leeds International Piano Competition and the 2013 Queen Elisabeth Competition. He captured first prize at the 2015 Géza Anda Competition, where he also received the Mozart and audience prizes. He has appeared as soloist with the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, National Orchestra of Belgium, Orchestra of St. Luke s, Las Vegas Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, Edmonton Symphony and Louisville Orchestra. In recital, Tyson has performed at the Library of Congress, Lincoln Center s Mostly Mozart Festival, Morgan Library and Museum, and Carnegie s Weill Recital Hall. Abroad, he has performed at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, Palais des Beaux- Arts in Brussels, Filharmonia Narodowa in Poland, Sintra Festival in Portugal, Music Viva Festival in Australia, and other prestigious series around the globe. Tyson s albums on the Alpha Classics label include the complete set of Chopin s preludes and a recording featuring works by Scriabin and Ravel. In 2013, Tyson gave his New York recital debut on the Young Concert Artists Series at Merkin Hall and his Washington, D.C. debut at the Kennedy Center s Terrace Theater. Tyson was the winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in Tyson made his orchestral debut at age 15, after studies with Thomas Otten at the University of North Carolina. He attended the Curtis Institute of Music, where he worked with Claude Frank. He later earned his master s degree and artist diploma at The Juilliard School with Robert McDonald, where he won the Gina Bachauer Piano Competition and received the Arthur Rubinstein Prize in Piano /18 Season