Valentine's Weekend Features
Special Performances of
"Romeo and Juliet"
The Utah Symphony and Music Director Thierry Fischer will present symphonic musical retellings of the tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet this Valentine’s Day weekend with a special, additional performance night on Thursday, February 14.The orchestra will perform these Romantic works including Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” Fantasy Overture and selections from Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet,” February 14, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. in Abravanel Hall. Also on the program is Robert Schumann’s Concerto in A minor for Piano and Orchestra Op. 54, featuring award winning pianist Nicholas Angelich.
The classic tale of Romeo and Juliet has affected lovers of all ages with their passion and dedication for one another in the midst of a deadly family feud, and has inspired artists and composers to produce new renditions of the tale through film, music, art and dance.
Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” Fantasy Overture is no stranger to the passion and adventure Shakespeare created in his original tale. The overture presents the agonizing story in full fold. Moments of intensity represent the power struggle between the two families, the Montagues and Capulets, followed by one of the most recognizable love themes in music history.
The selections from Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” were originally written for the ballet in Moscow, but when the theatre dropped the ballet portion he finished it as a concert suite in order to present his music to the masses. This piece is one of the few non-political pieces Prokofiev wrote during that time. The music is stimulating and creates a canvas where listeners can visualize the classic story of Romeo and Juliet.
Robert Schumann’s Concerto in A minor was written during Schumann’s “Chamber Music Year,” and fittingly accompanies the theme of this Valentine’s Day weekend concert, coming from the Romantic era and originating from a love story. The piece was written for Schumann’s own love, his wife Clara. Preceding the work was the infamous legal battle to wed Clara between Clara’s father and Schumann. The music was written for Clara, who was the first one to perform the work at its premiere. Surprisingly this is the only piano Concerto Schumann wrote. Although no one knows the reason why, it could be to be an exemplar of compositional intention and deep devotion for his beloved wife Clara. This work will feature American Pianist Nicholas Angelich.
Fischer and Toby Tolokan, Utah Symphony Vice President of Artistic Planning, will present a free pre-concert chat Friday and Saturday night, one hour prior to the start of each performance on the orchestra level of Abravanel Hall.
Tickets can be purchased by calling (801) 355-ARTS (2787), in person at the Abravanel hall ticket office (123 W. South Temple) or by visiting www.utahsymphony.org.
About Nicholas Angelich, Pianist
Born in the United States in 1970, Nicholas Angelich began learning the piano with his mother at the age of five and gave his first concert when he was seven. At thirteen he entered the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied with Aldo Ciccolini, Yvonne Loriod and Michel Béroff, taking first prizes for piano, for chamber music and for piano accompaniment. He subsequently studied with Marie-Françoise Bucquet, Leon Fleisher and Maria Joao Pires, winning prizes at the Robert Casadesus and Gina Bachauer International Piano Competitions and the Umberto Micheli Competition. In 2002 Leon Fleisher presented him with the Young Talent Award at the International Klavierfestival Ruhr.
Nicholas Angelich now performs in concerts across Europe and North America with, amongst others, the Orchestre National de France and Marc Minkowski, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Paavo Järvi. He made his debut at Lincoln Center, New York, in May 2003 with the New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur, and in 2004 toured Japan with Masur and the Orchestre National de France. His recital repertoire includes the Beethoven sonatas and Liszt's Années de Pélérinage, but his interests also extend from Bartók to Boulez and Messiaen to Pierre Henry, who dedicated his Concerto for piano without orchestra to him.
His interest in chamber music has led Nicholas Angelich to work with Gautier and Renaud Capuçon, Augustin Dumay, Gérard Caussé and the Ysaÿe and Prazak Quartets. His first recording for Virgin Classics, the Brahms trios with Gautier and Renaud Capuçon, won the “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik”. In the summer of 2005 Nicholas Angelich furthered his collaboration with Virgin Classics and Renaud Capuçon, with a recording of Brahms’ Violin Sonatas; the disc was awarded a Diapason d’Or, CHOC du Monde de la Musique, and made Gramophone’s Editor’s Choice. In January 2006, again on Virgin Classics, with whom he has signed an exclusive recording contract, Nicholas released a recital disc of Brahms’ Ballades, Rhapsodies and Paganini Variations, again highly praised by the press with a CHOC du Monde de la Musique, “10” de Classica Répertoire and singled out as a Gramophone Editor’s Choice. In July 2006, Gramophone singled him out as one of “Tomorrow’s Classical Superstars”. Nicholas Angelich’s second recital and latest release on Virgin Classics will further his Brahms discography with the composer’s demanding piano works Opp.116 to 119.
Program
Sergei Prokofiev
Selections from Romeo and Juliet
"Tableau" from Suite No. 1, op. 64a
"Morning Dance" from Suite No. 3, op. 101
"The Nurse" from Suite No. 3, op. 101
"Montagues and Capulets," Suite No.2
"Madrigal" from Suite No. 1, op. 64a
"Masked Ball,’ Suite 1
"Friar Lawrence" from Suite No. 2, op. 64b
"Death of Tybalt,’ Suite 1
"Romeo at the Tomb of Juliet" from Suite No. 2, op. 64b
"The Death of Juliet" from Suite No. 3, op. 101
Intermission
Robert Schumann
Concerto in A Minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 54
I. Allegro affettuoso
II. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso
III. Allegro vivace
Nicholas Angelich, Piano
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Abravanel Hall
123 W. South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah
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