Triumphant Tchaikovsky

October 23, 2010 • 7:30 pm

Saint-Saens • Introduction and Rondo capriccio, op. 28

Massenet • Meditation from Thais

Sarasate • Gypsy Airs

Tchaikovsky • Symphony No. 5

Program change to this concert due to Flutist Ysmael Reyes unable to attend.

Gareth Johnson returns to the CSO after stunning audiences with the Four Seasons – and his own hip hop violin music – last January. He will play three familiar works for violin and orchestra.

Saint-Saens’ famous violin showpiece has Spanish flair, as it was written for the young violin virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate. Massenet’s Meditation has a gorgeous, haunting melody with slight religious overtones. And finally, Gareth will play the dramatic and lively Gypsy Airs by Sarasate–the same violinist for whom Saint-Saens wrote the first piece on the program.

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony expresses the composer’s continued fascination – and fear – of Fate. It begins with a “motto” theme representing Fate and funereal in character, but by the final movement, it is transformed into a triumphant march. The changing character of the motto implies that Tchaikovsky is expressing optimism with regard to fate.

To read Program Notes for this concert Click Here

Listen here to an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 Click Here