The last of Edward Elgar’s works to gain immediate popular success was his Violin Concerto, written for the great violinist Fritz Kreisler. And the September 29th Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast on WRTI 90.1 at 1 PM brings us a performance by Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, on Kreisler’s own Guarneri del Gesu violin!
Nine years ago, Mr. Znaider celebrated the centenary of the first performance of the work in 1910, in a recording he made with Staatskapelle Dresden and Colin Davis, on which he played the same “Kreisler” Guarnerius of 1741, and his performance with the Philadelphians is one of the highlights of this season.
Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève is on the podium.
Following intermission, Tchaikovsky’s towering Symphony No. 5, a Philadelphia Orchestra staple for a century. A single theme, a kind of leitmotif of fate, appears in each of its four movements, suggesting a journey, or a gradual metamorphosis, culminating in a conclusion that can be heard as either triumphant or ominous. Listen on Sunday afternoon, and hear how Maestro Deneve interprets it!
During intermission, WRTI’s Susan Lewis speaks backstage at Verizon Hall with violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider and conductor Stéphane Denève.
Don’t miss it, Sunday, September 29th, from 1 to 3 PM, on WRTI 90.1 and streaming at wrti.org!
PROGRAM:
Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, violin
INTERMISSION
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Gregg Whiteside is producer and host of The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts, every Sunday at 1 pm on WRTI 90.1, streaming online at WRTI.org, and on the WRTI mobile app! Listen again on Mondays at 7 pm on WRTI HD-2.
