This Sunday, October 22nd, WRTI’s Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast begins and ends with works by Finnish masters and is conducted by Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève. And in between? Pianist Lars Vogt plays one of Grieg's most popular works.Esa-Pekka Salonen may be best known as a Finnish conductor—he’s conducted The Philadelphia Orchestra here in Philadelphia in 1986 and 2012—but he is also a celebrated composer, and his symphonic poem Nyx (the Greek goddess of the Night) is a kaleidoscope of orchestral color.
Before intermission comes the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, and the German pianist Lars Vogt, who will perform it. The 24-year-old Edvard Grieg, who studied in Leipzig, was introduced to Robert Schumann’s A minor concerto when he heard Clara Schumann perform it, and it made a powerful impact on the young Norwegian. Grieg's Piano Concerto, composed in 1868, is his sole completed work for piano.
After intermission, you'll hear a work written at the dawn of the 20th century—the Second Symphony of Jean Sibelius—an epic symphony, a work of majesty and grandeur. And although Sibelius studied in Berlin and Vienna, lived in Vienna, had a Latin name, and was inspired to write the symphony in Italy, there is a distinctly Finnish temperament to the work.
Sibelius would deny any connection to Russia for most of his life, but critics have seen in the Second Symphony Sibelius’s response to Russian geo-political aggression, specifically threats to annex Finland.
During intermission, WRTI’s Susan Lewis interviews Lars Vogt, and Debra Lew Harder speaks backstage with Maestro Denève.
It’s an all-Nordic Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast, Sunday, October 22nd from 1 to 3 PM, not to be missed!
Detailed program notes from the concert
PROGRAM:
Salonen: Nyx (first Philadelphia Orchestra Performance)
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor
Lars Vogt, Piano
INTERMISSION
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Stéphane Denève, 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!
