Utah Symphony's Two-Week Tchaikovsky Celebration

Utah Symphony's Tchaikovsky Celebration

Utah Symphony's two-week Tchaikovsky celebration opens with Fifth and Pathétique symphonies April 12 and 13, 2013.

The Utah Symphony, led by Music Director Thierry Fischer, will kick off a two-week Tchaikovsky celebration with a performance of two of Tchaikovsky’s most memorable symphonies

The program will include Symphonies No. 5 and No. 6 “Pathétique,” April 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. in Abravanel Hall, in addition to two unique choral works by Arnold Schoenberg featuring the Utah Symphony Chorus.

Tchaikovsky is known for writing highly vivid and programmatic works and his fifth and sixth symphonies are no exception. Although there is no known explicit program associated with it his Symphony No. 5 there are programmatic elements that are left up to interpretation for the listener.

Symphony No. 5 is saturated with the looming theme of fate. It is ambiguous whether he was using the theme in a Beethovian sense or if it had much more of a personal impact for Tchaikovsky with his own battles with fate. Whatever the reason for its use, it is embedded in and affects the symphony throughout each tantalizing and triumphant fragment.

Unlike the English translation of “Pathétique” meaning pathetic or pitable, the Russian meaning exudes an enthusiastic, passionate and emotional experience. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 is nicknamed “Pathétique” because it displays just that. The structure of the symphony is unique in the fact that the third movement is a march that eventually builds to a rousing climax while the fourth movement is a fittingly patient funeral dream with a matter-of-fact view on death and the beyond.

Schoenberg’s choral works “Friede auf Erden” and “My Horses Ain’t Hungry” bring unusual elements than from the expected choral experience. The Utah Symphony Chorus will perform this piece a cappella.

Schoenberg is known for his highly rigid structures and atonal expressionism, but his “Friede auf Erden” is one of the last pieces written during his “tonal” period. The work displays an array of emotions as the it moves through multiple verses. The first verse is a depiction of the Christian Nativity scene while the second tells of much bloodshed. The third and fourth verses gradually deliver a message of peace on earth yet still contain an air of caution.

“My Horses Ain’t Hungry” is Schoenberg’s attempt at an American folk song arrangement. He never completed the work, but it was later finished by composer and University of North Carolina professor Allen Anderson in 2005. During performances of both Schoenberg pieces, textual translations of the lyrics will be projected above the stage.

Fischer and Toby Tolokan, Utah Symphony Vice President of Artistic Planning, will present a free pre-concert chat each night, one hour prior to the start of the performance on the orchestra level of Abravanel Hall.

Tickets for the performances for April 12 and 13, 2013 and can be purchased by calling (801) 355-ARTS (2787), in person at the Abravanel hall ticket office or by visiting www.utahsymphony.org.

The second performance included in the Utah Symphony’s celebration of Tchaikovsky’s music will include performances of all three piano concerti featuring pianist Louis Lortie. The program will be offered April 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. in Abravanel Hall, and will also feature works by Arnold Schoenberg. More information about this second program will be released at a later date.

Program
Arnold Schoenberg
       Friede auf Erden, op. 13
            Utah Symphony Chorus

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
       Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, op. 74, "Pathétique"
            I. Adagio - Allegro non troppo
            II. Allegro con grazia
            III. Allegro molto vivace
            IV. Finale: Adagio lamentoso

Intermission

Arnold Schoenberg
       My Horses Ain't Hungry
            Utah Symphony Chorus

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
       Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, op. 64
            I. Andante - Allegro con anima
            II. Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza
            III. Valse: Allegro moderato
            IV. Finale: Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace


Abravanel Hall
123 W. South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah


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