Vienna was a hotbed of musical evolution, and the second concert in the Philadelphia Orchestra’s three-part series of the Music of Vienna shows us how far the symphony traveled in that time. On Sunday, September 4th at 1 pm, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphians bring you two symphonies composed about 80 years apart: Joseph Haydn’s 103rd, the famous “Drumroll” Symphony, and Anton Bruckner’s 4th.
On top of that, these works spotlight two of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s principal players. That famous drumroll has evolved in performance practice over the years, and Don Liuzzi, Principal Timpanist, will give it his own interpretation to open Sunday afternoon’s re-broadcast.
The Fourth Symphony brought Bruckner his first significant public success.
Just as all ears will be on Mr. Liuzzi at the beginning of the Haydn, they will be on Principal Horn Jennifer Montone at the beginning of Bruckner’s Symphony No 4, when she plays the famous exposed and extended opening horn call.
The relative brevity, humor, and modest instrumental scale associated with Haydn’s symphonies stand in stark contrast to the expansive orchestral vision of Anton Bruckner. His Fourth Symphony brought him his first significant public success. (Actually, this is his sixth, since he composed two earlier, unnumbered ones.) Its title, “Romantic,” is Bruckner’s own, signifying how far removed this work is from the classicism of Haydn.
During intermission, WRTI’s Susan Lewis will speak with Yannick Nézet-Séguin about these two important symphonies. She will also sit down for a conversation with both Don Liuzzi and Jennifer Montone. Be sure to join us this Sunday, September 4th from 1 to 3 pm for The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert on WRTI.
Detailed program notes from the concert here
PROGRAM:
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 103, “Drumroll”
Intermission
Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 4, “Romantic”
Gregg Whiteside is producer and host of The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts on WRTI 90.1 FM in Philadelphia and streaming online at WRTI.org, every Sunday from 1 to 3 pm.
