Pittsburgh Symphony

[Dave (imported)]

I haven't posted about the Pittsburgh Symphony in a long while. . .

French conductor Emmanuel Krivine made his PSO debut this past weekend with three pieces:

Johannes Brahms, Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn, opus 56a

Which by chance of strange fate, isn’t a theme of Joseph Haydn. It is now called the St Anthony Variations (scholars dug into dusty tomes to figure that out) and it was published in two versions: An orchestral version and a two-piano version (not a transcription but a unique work).

Boris Blacher, Orchestral Variations on a Theme of Niccolo PaganiniA BANNED LINK WAS POSTED!

A 20th Century German composer, who after WW2 composed a set of Variations based on Paganini’s 24th Caprice. True to his 20th Century roots, Blacher incorporated Jazz elements and lots of woodwinds and brass. A showy piece of music for any orchestra.

Tchaikovsky, Symphony #5 in E-minor

This is a “Fate” but not Fate in the form of 4 notes in crashing chords opening the music, That’s Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #4 Symphony, Beethovens 5th Symphony, and Mahler’s 5th Symphony… And yes, Tchaikovsky did write the 4th symphony as homage to Beethoven when he was in a time of strife - - his divorce and troubles with his sexuality. But ten years later, Tchaikovsky revisited “Fate” and his emotions to compose his 5th symphony.

Tchaikovsky’s 5th uses a cyclical symphony with a recurring theme that represents fate. It begins the first movement with an orchestra sighing in romance fervor. It is funereal, representing loss. Eventually, the music rises into a glorious march. The theme is present in the rest of the symphony and flows glorious into the finale that only Tchaikovsky could write. Big brass, spectacular climaxes, everything expected of a piece of music.

[Losethem (imported)]

In other news, I have been told by the doctor who did my urinary stricture repair after my nullification surgery, that there is one member of the Pittsburgh Symphony who is also a nullo, but involuntarily. His was medical necessity. So the next time you go see them, you may wish to pay attention to the front of the men and play your own silent game of, "which one of you is a nullo?"

[Dave (imported)]

Next Sunday for

Elgar's Enigma Variations and

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #4, Garrick Ohlson on piano

Leonard Slatkin conducting.

(I'll keep an eye out)

[Losethem (imported)]

Next Sunday for

Elgar's Enigma Variations and

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #4, Garrick Ohlson on piano

Leonard Slatkin conducting.

(I'll keep an eye out)

Have a good time.