MIDORI performs TCHAIKOVSKY, plus STRAVINSKY'S PÉTROUCHKA

Transcription

1 2015/16 Season CLASSICAL SERIES MIDORI performs TCHAIKOVSKY, plus STRAVINSKY'S PÉTROUCHKA Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 15-17, 2016 MICHAEL STERN, conductor MIDORI, violinist BERNSTEIN Fancy Free I. Enter Three Sailors II. Scene at the Bar III. Enter Two Girls IV. Pas de Deux V. Competition Scene VI. Variation 1. Galop 2. Waltz 3. Danzon VII. Finale TCHAIKOVSKY Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, op. 35 I. Allegro moderato II. Canzonetta: Andante III. Finale: Allegro vivacissimo Midori, violinist INTERMISSION STRAVINSKY Pétrouchka (1947 revision) I. The Shrovetide Fair II. Petrouchka's Cell III. The Moor's Cell IV. The Fair (towards evening) The 2015/16 season is generously sponsored by SHIRLEY and BARNETT C. HELZBERG, JR. The Classical Series is sponsored by Friday s concert sponsored by DR. RON and DONNA PATTON Friday s corporate sponsor is Concert weekend sponsored by ANN and G. KENNETH BAUM Sunday s concert sponsored by RICHARD and SUE ANN FAGERBERG Additional support provided by Podcast available at kcsymphony.org KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY 21

2 Fancy Free, an early work by Leonard Bernstein, tells the story of a trio of sailors on 24-hour shore leave in New York City. LEONARD BERNSTEIN ( ) Fancy Free (1944) 24 minutes Piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, suspended cymbals, wood block, triangle, piano and strings. On November 14, 1943, Leonard Bernstein, then a 25-year-old assistant conductor with the New York Philharmonic, made an unexpected and stunning debut. Bernstein, substituting at the last moment for the ill Bruno Walter, led the orchestra in a nationally broadcast concert. Bernstein was soon in great demand to conduct the New York Philharmonic, as well as other major orchestras throughout the United States. During this heady period, Bernstein also found time to compose. On April 18, 1944, at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, Bernstein conducted the premiere of his ballet, Fancy Free. Commissioned by Ballet Theater, Fancy Free was a collaboration between Leonard Bernstein and choreographer Jerome Robbins. The ballet, set in New York City in 1944, tells the story of a trio of sailors on 24-hour shore leave. Fancy Free was an immediate success. Later that year, Bernstein and Robbins worked on another project that explored a similar story line, the Broadway show On the Town. In time, Bernstein and Robbins also collaborated Recommended Recording BERNSTEIN: Fancy Free New York Philharmonic / Leonard Bernstein, conductor Label: Sony Classical Masterworks Catalog # /16 Season

3 on one of the most iconic works in American musical theater, West Side Story (1957). All three compositions feature Bernstein s characteristic, magical synthesis of classical and popular styles. Tchaikovsky s Violin Concerto survived early critical and audience resistance to become one of the most beloved in the repertoire. PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY ( ) Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, op. 35 (1878) 34 minutes Solo violin, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings. Tchaikovsky composed his only Violin Concerto during the spring of The composer dedicated the work to Leopold Auer, the great Hungarian-born violinist, who was living and teaching in St. Petersburg. Auer, however, declined to play the piece. The premiere, which took place in Vienna on December 4, 1881, featured violinist Adolf Brodsky as soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Hans Richter. Tchaikovsky greatly appreciated the courage displayed by Brodsky in performing before a Viennese audience with a concerto by an unknown composer, and a Russian one to boot. The extent of Brodsky s courage becomes even clearer when the circumstances of the premiere are examined. The reaction by the audience and critics was unfavorable, to say the least. The performance inspired the prominent Viennese critic, Eduard Hanslick, to write one of the most infamous reviews in music history, capped by the following: Friedrich Visser once /16 Season

4 observed, speaking of obscene pictures, that they stink to the eye. Tchaikovsky s Violin Concerto gives us for the first time the hideous notion that there can be music that stinks to the ear. Still, Brodsky persevered in his advocacy of the Concerto, playing it throughout Europe. In time, the merits of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto became clear. Even Leopold Auer finally performed the work, as did his protégés Mischa Elman and Jascha Heifetz. But it was Adolf Brodsky to whom Tchaikovsky dedicated this beloved masterpiece. The Concerto is in three movements. The first (Allegro moderato) begins with an orchestral introduction, but it is not long before the soloist enters with a brief opening passage, yielding to the flowing, principal theme. The succinct and extraordinarily beautiful second movement (Canzonetta: Andante) leads without pause to the Concerto s whirlwind Finale (Allegro vivacissimo). The writing for the soloist throughout the Finale is brilliant, perhaps nowhere more so than in the thrilling closing pages. Recommended Recording TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto Jascha Heifetz, violinist Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Fritz Reiner, conductor Label: RCA Victor Living Stereo Catalog #67896 G. Kenneth and Ann Baum CONCERT COMMENTS Enjoy a lively conversation about our Classical Series programs, frequently featuring the conductor and guest artist, beginning one hour prior to most classical concerts. Concert Comments are not presented in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts prior to concerts featuring the Kansas City Symphony Chorus. KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY 25

5 IGOR STRAVINSKY ( ) Pétrouchka (1911) (1947 revision) 34 minutes Piccolo, 3 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, bass drum with attached cymbal, crash cymbals, snare drum, suspended cymbals, tam tam, tambourine, triangle, xylophone, harp, celeste, piano and strings. Pétrouchka, The Firebird (1910) and The Stravinsky s Rite of Spring (1913) form the remarkable ballet trilogy of ballets Igor Stravinsky composed Pétrouchka for Sergei Diaghilev s Ballets Russes. The tells the story premiere of Pétrouchka took place at the Paris of a puppet Théâtre du Chatelet on June 13, The who comes to legendary dancer Vaslav Nijinsky interpreted life, only to the title role. After witnessing Nijinsky s be murdered performance, Sarah Bernhardt exclaimed: by his rival. At I am afraid, I am afraid because I have the conclusion just seen the greatest actor in the world! of the story, While the production was generally a the ghost of success, more than a few observers were Pétrouchka taken aback by music that was at times returns to haunt brittle, caustic and even grotesque. One his master. critic approached Diaghilev after a dress rehearsal and exclaimed: And it was to hear this that you invited us! Exactly, was Diaghilev s reply. The Story and the Music I. The Shrovetide Fair The action of Pétrouchka takes place in the 1830s in Admiralty Square, St. Petersburg, during Shrovetide rejoicing. Stravinsky s stunning orchestration and rapidly shifting /16 Season

6 rhythms magically depict the hustle and bustle of the fair. An organ grinder and dancing girl entertain the crowd. Drummers announce the appearance of the Old Wizard, who charms the captivated audience. The Old Wizard uses a flute to cast a magic spell. The curtain rises on a tiny theater, revealing three puppets Pétrouchka, the Ballerina and the Moor. The puppets perform a vigorous Russian dance. II. Pétrouchka s Cell Pétrouchka lands in his cell with a resounding crash. Although Pétrouchka is a puppet, he feels human emotions, including bitterness toward the Old Wizard for his imprisonment, as well as love for the beautiful Ballerina. Pétrouchka unsuccessfully tries to escape from his cell. The Ballerina enters. Pétrouchka attempts to profess his love, but the Ballerina rejects his pathetic advances. III. The Moor s Cell The scene changes to the Moor s lavishly decorated cell. The Ballerina, who is attracted by the Moor s handsome appearance, enters his room. The two begin their lovemaking, interrupted by the entrance of Pétrouchka. The angry Moor chases Pétrouchka away. IV. The Fair The scene returns to the fairground toward evening, where a series of characters come and go (Wet-Nurses Dance, Peasant with Bear, Gypsies and a Rake Vendor, Dance of the Coachmen, and Masqueraders). At the height of the festivities, a cry is heard from the puppet-theater. The Moor chases Pétrouchka into the crowd and kills him with his scimitar. The police question the Old Wizard, who reminds everyone that Pétrouchka is but a puppet with a wooden head, and a body filled with sawdust. Night falls, and the crowd disperses. Alone, the Old Wizard is terrified to see the leering ghost of Pétrouchka on the roof of the little theater. Recommended Recording STRAVINSKY: Pétrouchka Philharmonia Orchestra / Robert Craft, conductor Label: Naxos Catalog # KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY 27

7 About MIDORI, violinist SINCE HER DEBUT AT AGE 11 WITH THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC 34 years ago, violinist Midori has established a record of achievement which sets her apart as a master musician, innovator and champion of the developmental potential of children. In 1992, she founded Midori & Friends, a non-profit organization which brings annual music education programs to underserved New York City schoolchildren in every borough. Two other organizations, Music Sharing, based in Japan, and Partners in Performance, based in the U.S., also bring music closer to the lives of people who may not otherwise have involvement with the arts. Her commitment to community collaboration and outreach is further realized in her Orchestra Residencies Program. Midori s performing life is divided between recitals, chamber music and concerto performances worldwide. In the season, she added two new recordings one of which won a Grammy Award to her extensive catalog of CDs, and in the season, she recorded DoReMi, a violin concerto written for her by Peter Eötvös, with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the composer conducting. Other notable recent events included three residencies: the first at Ravinia, where she served as both soloist with the Chicago Symphony and faculty member at the prestigious Steans Institute; the second, at the Lucerne Festival, where she was named Artiste Étoile and performed the world premiere of a new violin concerto composed for her by Johannes Maria Staud; and the third, a series of concerts at Tokyo s Suntory Hall, combining recitals of new music and standard repertoire with a special concert for seniors and another featuring four violin concertos in a single program. In addition to her many other commitments, she continues her position as distinguished professor of violin and Jascha Heifetz Chair at the University of Southern California s Thornton School of Music. Read program notes or listen to podcasts at kcsymphony.org /16 Season