Join us to hear conclusion of The Philadelphia Orchestra's chronological survey of Brahms’ magisterial four symphonies from last spring with a performance of his Symphony No. 4, on WRTI’s Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast from 1 to 3 pm on Sunday, September 24th.
Brahms based the last movement of his Fourth Symphony on the final movement of Bach’s Cantata No. 150, “Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich” (For You, Lord, Is My Longing); and in this concert, we’ll have the rare opportunity to hear the symphony paired with the cantata, sung by current and former soloists from Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts, and conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Soprano Vanessa Vasquez, this year’s National Winner of the Met National Council Auditions, will be joined by mezzo-soprano Chrystal Williams, tenor Jonas Hacker, and bass-baritone André Courville in a radiant performance of Bach’s cantata.
For Brahms, the music of J.S. Bach proved an enduring passion and inspiration, and this Sunday’s concert begins with selections from Brahms’ final composition, his Eleven Chorale Preludes, written during the last summer of his life and in the wake of the death of his closest friend, Clara Wieck Schumann, widow of his mentor Robert Schumann.
Four of these Bach-inspired pieces we’ll hear in their original organ version featuring the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ, played by Peter Richard Conte, and three others in the world premiere performances of new orchestrations by German composer Detlev Glanert.
The concert concludes with Brahms’s Symphony No. 4.
During intermission, WRTI’s Susan Lewis will speak with Peter Richard Conte, and Bliss Michelson will sit down with Detlev Glanert.
Not to be missed, that’s this Sunday, from 1 to 3 pm on WRTI 90.1 in Philadelphia and streaming online at WRTI.org.
Read detailed program notes from the concert
PROGRAM:
Brahms: Selections from Eleven Chorale Preludes, Op. 122
Peter Richard Conte, organ
Bach: Cantata No. 150, "Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich," BWV 150
INTERMISSION
Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor
Gregg Whiteside is producer and host of the Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts on WRTI, every Sunday at 1 pm on WRTI 90.1 FM, online at WRTI.org, and on our new mobile app! NEW: rebroadcast of Sunday concerts on Mondays at 7 pm on WRTI HD-2, as part of our new "Symphony at 7" lineup!