Rachmaninoff's Last Great Work
The New York Philharmonic welcomes pre-eminent Slovak conductor Juraj Valcuha and their very own virtuosic, violin-toting Concertmaster Frank Huang for a rousing program of Korngold, Barber and Rachmaninoff. A classical crossover composer, Erich Wolfgang Korngold became one of the most renowned tunesmith of Hollywood's golden era of film. His Much Ado About Nothing Suite was composed as incidental music for a Viennese production of the Bard's tale, but later became wildly popular with Orchestras across the world.
Following this flying start to the evening is Barber's Violin Concerto in which Huang will flex his bow, tackling the wild juxtaposition between the piece's soulfully sweet opening movements and fiendishly lightning-fast finale. The program closes with the angular intensity and vibrant kaleidoscopic instrumental color of Rachmaninoff's last work Symphonic Dances. Each of its contrasting three dances come together to yield a retrospective whole that stunningly sums up the Romantic icon's musical philosophy - bold driving rhythms, heart-stoppingly beautiful melodies and lush orchestration.