The Evening Concert

Zubin turned 80 years old earlier in 2016; the Philharmonic celebrates that with this program of works from the Archive.

The Violin Concerto is dedicated to his friend, the violinist Joachim; the AFO was written as a musical 'thank you to the University of Breslau which granted Brahms an honoray doctorate in 1881.

The three main works on tonight's broadcast are "programmatic" works, that is, they are purely instrumental but attempt to 'tell a story' (Sensemaya) or convey a particular time and place (Lt. Kije).

Both symphonies on tonight's program are known for their daring...Beethoven's 3rd, the "Eroica" points the 'symphony' in a new direction; Vaughan Williams carries on the 'tradition' of being innovative in his 6th Symphony.

It's not a mis-print in Patterns to see Beethoven's 3rd Symphony twice this week ....it happens that way sometimes due to the release dates by our syndicators.

Do you know the Beethoven "Septet"?  Join us tonight for a recorded live-in-concert performance of this work for 3 winds and 3 strings: clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola and double bass.

The 2nd Symphony has a melody or two that was borrowed and used in a couple of 'pop' tunes from the 1970s...listen for them.

From March to Septemebr 1778 Mozart received commissions to write concertos of various kinds, including the "Flute and Harp Concerto".

A Thousand and One Nights. Scheherazade figures out a way to avoid being killed (like all those who came before her): tell a fresh story every night, for 1,001 nights....

Sibelius wanted to be one of the great violinists. He never succeeded at it. However, he left posterity an amazing violin concerto that continues to delight to this day.