listener’s guide 2020 - 2021 SEASON Celebrating 100 Years Saturday Night Classics Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 7:30 PM | Holland Center Ernest Richardson, conductor GIUSEPPE VERDI Overture to La forza del destino (1813-1901) PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 (1840-1893) III: Allegro molto vivace JOHN WILLIAMS “Sayuri’s Theme” from Memoirs of a Geisha (b. 1932) ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” (1841-1904) I: Adagio—Allegro molto SAMUEL BARBER Adagio for Strings (1910-1981) EDVARD GRIEG In the Hall of the Mountain King (1843-1907) MODEST MUSSORGSKY Night on Bald Mountain (1839-1881) IGOR STRAVINSKY Suite from The Firebird (1919) (1882-1971) III: Infernal Dance of King Kaschchei V: Finale 1 listener’s guide listener’s guide GIUSEPPE VERDI Overture to La forza del destino An opera overture turned symphony staple: at times thrilling, alarming, romantic, nerve-wracking, and triumphant. You won’t be able to miss: The brass section, acting as Fate, opening the piece (and our program) with six resounding chords. HEAR IT You can find Tchaikovsky’s Sixth PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY IN THE MOVIES featured in The Aviator and Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique” The Death of Stalin. Tchaikovsky’s last symphony, nicknamed “Pathétique,” is filled with moments of incredible emotion, from passion to anguish. This movement, however, is a triumphant march that ends so resoundingly, it’s become a symphony tradition to clap afterwards (even though it’s not the end of the symphony!) JOHN WILLIAMS “Sayuri’s Theme” from Memoirs of a Geisha One of John Williams’ most gorgeous cinematic scores. The original soundtrack features Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman. You won’t be able to miss: Solos for Principal Flute Maria Harding and Assistant Principal Oboe Heather Baxter ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” Dvořák’s assistant, Harry Burleigh, was a Black Dvořák came to America in 1892, invited to head the National baritone who introduced Conservatory of Music in NYC. He traveled extensively (including, Dvořák to spirituals like famously, to Spillville, Iowa) and listened extensively to local music. “Go Down Moses” and “Swing Low, Sweet Where you’ve heard it: Chariot” – music that On the moon?! Neil Armstrong took Dvořák’s would be woven into “New World” along on the Apollo 11 mission for the fabric of Dvořák’s the very first landing in 1969! Ninth Symphony. 2 listener’s guide SAMUEL BARBER Where you’ve heard it: Adagio for Strings It was performed at the funerals Arguably the most famous strings-only work in the of F.D.R, J.F.K, and Princess Grace. orchestral repertoire, Barber’s Adagio has become a Prominent film usage includes Platoon universal go-to for mourning, historical remembrance, and The Elephant Man. Ironically, the and nearly indescribable beauty. Its melody stretches Adagio is wildly popular as an EDM endlessly throughout the work, moving from one string arrangement by Dutch artist DJ Tiësto. section to another. EDVARD GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite: In the Hall of the Mountain King This piece is so widely known, loved, and shared in popular culture that you could almost forget that it’s real classical music! Mountain King is a piece from Grieg’s set of incidental music for a play by Henrik Ibsen. In this particular movement, the protagonist – Peer Gynt, who is, literally, the worst - has seduced the Mountain King’s daughter and people are, ah, not pleased. Tension builds and builds until Peer is chased rather enthusiastically by the King and his people. There are lyrics! “Slay him! The Christian man’s son has seduced/ the fairest maid of the Mountain King! / Slay him! Slay him! / May I hack him on the fingers? / May I tug him by the hair? / Hu, hey, let me bite him in the haunches! / Shall he be boiled into broth and beer to me / Shall he roast on a spit or be browned in a stewpan? / Ice to your blood, friends!” Where haven’t you heard it: ELO, Rick Wakeman, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, The Who – all people/bands who have covered or used Mountain King. Bugs Bunny, Courage the Cowardly Dog, How the Grinch Stole Christmas; if the plot is associated with mischief, mayhem, or trouble afoot – or chocolate candy at Halloween – you can bet Mountain King’s been used for it. MODEST MUSSORGSKY Night on Bald Mountain If you’re still traumatized by the original Fantasia, this might have a lot to do with it. This classic fantasy for orchestra has everything: dancing demons, huge brass sections, and the very fortunate dawn of a new day. Want to get funky with it? The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack has a fun take with “Night on Disco Mountain.” What’s most sad is that Mussorgsky never got to hear this work himself – it was published after his death. Perhaps… perhaps it scared him, too! IGOR STRAVINSKY Where you’ve heard it: Firebird Suite Fantasia 2000! Although much less scary than the Stravinsky Rite of Spring depiction from the original Fantasia, Disney Firebird is the ballet that launched really knows how to get your heartrate up. Stravinsky’s career – an incredible collaboration between himself and You won’t be able to miss: choreographer Sergei Diaghilev, The bubbling energy of the percussion, bassoons, and centered around Russian magic low strings, and the explosive hits in upper strings, brass, and folklore. and woodwinds. The triumphant solos for Principal French Horn Brett Hodge, Principal Flute Maria Harding, and Concertmaster Susanna Perry Gilmore. 2 3.