Giuseppe Verdi
Performed by Chamber and Symphony Orchestras
Nabucco was premiered in 1842 and was an instant success as well as solidifying Verdi’s career as a composer. It’s extremely fortunate that it did, for had it failed, Verdi’s career would have certainly ended. The four years preceding it brought him several personal tragedies, with several deaths in his immediate family. The Overture is typical in that it pulls its themes from the opera itself. It is magnificently clever, however, in how it concisely and excitingly creates the parameters of the opera’s story. The opening brass chorale represents the steadfast faith of the Hebrew people as the forces of King Nebuchadnezzar (Nabucco) of Babylon defeats and enslaves them.
Va pensiero (“Go, my thoughts, on golden wings"), which is the name of the famous chorus song from the opera, played in the overture first by the oboe and clarinet then later doubled in the trumpet, characterizes the Hebrews’ longing to see home again as they work on the banks of the Euphrates. The chorus was so cherished by the Italians that the some 100,000 mourners attending Verdi’s funeral in 1901 spontaneously sang it in memory of their favorite, and thankfully well-known, opera composer.
__Max Derrickson, published 2012 from Program Notes
Erik Morales
Performed by Chamber Orchestra Strings
Percussionists: Mr. Clay Beyert and Mr. Dan Zugale
Prelude and Fiesta is a vibrant, two-movement work that draws inspiration from Afro-Cuban music and Latin street festivals. The first movement, Prelude, introduces a spicy, ballad-like section, while the second, Fiesta, depicts an ebullient Latin street festival. The music features Mr. Clay Beyert and Mr. Dan Zugale and their musical expertise on condensed percussion parts. Enjoy!
Pablo de Sarasate
Arranged by Paul Wood
Violin Soloists: Wesley Chen and Hanna Chee
Performed by Chamber Orchestra Strings
Navarra, is a virtuoso showpiece for two violins, originally scored for two violins and piano. It was composed in 1889 and serves as a tribute to the composer's birthplace, Pamplona, in the Navarre region of Spain. The piece evokes the spirit of Spanish folk dances, particularly the "jota," a lively dance from Northern Spain
Maurice Ravel
Arranged by Jeremy Woolstenhulme
Mini Solos: Hanna Chee, Sanjana Murali, Jacob Kang
Performed by Symphony Orchestra Strings
Pavane for a Dead Princess is not a funeral lament but a piece that evokes the image of a young Spanish princess dancing a stately court dance, capturing a sense of quiet reverie and inner beauty through Ravel's exquisite orchestration..
Antonin Dvorak
First Movement - Allegro
Cello Solo - Jacob Kang
Performed by Symphony Orchestra
The Cello Concerto is a three-movement work that explores themes of love, loss, and redemption, all while showcasing the cello's lyrical capabilities. It is known for its powerful melodies, its dramatic shifts in mood, and its poignant personal connection to the composer's life.
The 1st movement's emotional arc reflects a struggle between darkness and light, culminating in a joyful and celebratory ending.
Ruggiero Leoncavallo
Performed by Chamber and Symphony Orchestras
Conducted by Peter Baek
Tarantella is a vibrant and energetic orchestral piece in the typical 6/8 time signature of the tarantella dance style. It features a sectionalized structure, running eighth notes, and utilizes instruments like the soaring woodwind lines, pizzicato strings, and percussion, reflecting the dance's lively and frenetic character. The piece is a musical depiction of the tarantella dance, which is believed to have originated in the Italian province of Taranto and is associated with a folk dance used as a cure for a supposed tarantula bite.
Edvard Grieg
Morning Mood
Death of Ase
Anitras Dance
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Performed by Chamber and Symphony Orchestras
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 is a collection of four movements from the incidental music Grieg wrote for Henrik Ibsen's play. It evokes scenes and emotions from the play, offering a glimpse into Peer Gynt's life and the Norwegian landscape. The suite is known for its memorable melodies and vibrant orchestral colors.
Morning Mood - This movement, one of the most famous, depicts a sunrise in Morocco as Peer Gynt stands before a statue of Memnon. The evocative flute solo symbolizes the sunrise and his appreciation of nature.
Death of Ase - This poignant movement, scored for muted strings, portrays Peer Gynt's grief over the death of his mother, Ase. It is a powerful and melancholic expression of loss.
Anitra's Dance - This movement depicts the dance of Anitra, a "nomadic" girl, whom Peer Gynt watches while sipping coffee in her father's tent. It's reminiscent of the sounds and music heard in the neighborhoods of Morocco.
In the Hall of the Mountain King - This movement portrays Peer Gynt's descent into a world of trolls and elves in the mountains. The music, characterized by a repeating theme and growing intensity, depicts the trolls' anger and pursuit of Peer Gynt when he rejects the troll king's daughter.