Andris Nelsons and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra begin this week’s Preview! with the second movement (Scherzo) from Anton Bruckner’s monumental Symphony No. 8. The Italian word Scherzo means light or playful.
French musician Philippe Gaubert (1879-1941) was a distinguished French flutist and conductor. We’ll hear Autumn from his Three Watercolors for Flute, Cello and Piano played for us by Bonita Boyd, flute; Steven Doane, cello; and Barry Snyder, piano. This is on a Bridge CD entitled Aquarelles:- Martinu — Gaubert — Damase — Weber.
Antonio Vivaldi’s music regularly akes the top 10 lists of classical musicians everywhere. And it’s easy to hear why when listening to the Concerto in G for 2 Mandolins, RV 532 played by Avi Avital and Alon Sariel, accompanied by the Venice Baroque Orchestra.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote his Concerto No. 7 in F for 3 Pianos, K. 242, “Lodron” in 1776. It has the nickname “Lodron” because he wrote it for “Countess Antonia Lodron to be played with her two daughters Aloysia and Giuseppa. The third piano part, intended for the younger daughter, is more moderate in its technical demands,” according to Michael Morrison in AllMusic. Our performance features The MultiPiano Ensemble on the Hyperion label.
“Vänskä isn’t only about meticulous preparation. In concert he’s a wiry dynamo: lean, whippy and indefatigably energetic. His interpretations are the same. He never stops probing and pushing.” (The Times)
Photo: Greg Helgeson
When Maestro Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra released their stunning new recording of Gustav Mahler’s Unfinished Symphony No. 10, we were eager to showcase it on Preview! But when we were given the opportunity to interview Maestro Vänskä last week, we were over the moon with excitement. You can hear Elizabeth Elliott’s interview at 7 p.m. Eastern, following which the Minnesota Orchestra plays the Finale from Symphony No. 10. The recording is available on the BIS label.
Sir Edward Elgar composed his Salut d’amour, Op. 12 in 1888 for his fiancée Caroline Alice Roberts. It is one of the English composer’s most popular works. Violinist Nicola Benedetti and pianist Peter Limonov perform.
“The Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov creates a furor.” Alex Ross in New Yorker
What better music for Daniil Trifonov to display his passion for the music of his countryman, Igor Stravinsky, by playing Three movements for piano from Petrushka. Daniil Trifonov records on the Deatchegrammaphon label.
The Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Day Concert is a tradition with the orchestra. Riccardo Muti conducted this year’s festivities which included Franz von Suppé’s Overture to Poet and Peasant.
The Seattle Symphony Orchestra’s home is Benaroya Hall. Thomas Dausgaard, the orchestra’s current music director, leads the orchestra in a performance of Alexander Scriabin’s Poem of Ecstasy, Op. 54 which was recorded in the hall.
A protege of Martha Argerich, Greek-born pianist Theodosia Ntokou concludes Preview! this week with a powerful performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 “Tempest”.
Rob Kennedy
May 23, 2021