Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony
Thu Mar 3 — Sat Mar 5, 2022
Orchestra Hall
The Minnesota Orchestra welcomes Nathalie Stutzmann back to the podium for a program that is rich with heart and soul. First, George Walker’s Lyric for Strings, composed in memory of Walker’s grandmother, will take your breath away. Then, violinist Tobias Feldmann joins the Orchestra for the first time to play Prokofiev’s imaginative and exciting Second Violin Concerto. Stutzmann, who is known for infusing lyricism into each performance, leads the Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s tender and beautiful Sixth Symphony, the Pathétique.
A Few Things to Know
- Nathalie Stutzmann was recently announced as the next music director of the Atlanta Symphony, beginning her appointment there in the fall of 2022.
- In 1996, George Walker was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize in music for his work titled Lilacs, a vocal-orchestral setting of Walt Whitman’s poetry.
Program
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WALKER
Lyric for Strings
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Written in memory of the composer’s grandmother, George Walker’s Lyric for Strings is music of great emotion, with melodies proceeding in mostly stepwise manner, harmonies jumping from major to modal, and sparing use of plucked strings.
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PROKOFIEV
Violin Concerto No. 2
1 min noteOne Minute Note
This lyrical concerto veers between extremes, now gentle, now full of energy. Sergei Prokofiev’s imagination—and his penchant for saucy touches—are often evident, as in his use of castanets near the work’s exciting close.
- INTERMISSION
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TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 6, Pathétique
1 min noteOne Minute Note
Darkly, tenderly, beautifully, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Sixth and final symphony communicates a mood of deep suffering. Brilliant touches include a waltz in 5/4 time, a dramatic scherzo and a lamenting melody that sinks away to silence.
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Nathalie Stutzmann
conductor
Tobias Feldmann
violin
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, led by Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård—who is serving as music director designate during the 2022-23 season—is recognized for distinguished performances around the world, award-winning recordings and broadcasts, educational engagement programs, and commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of the future. Founded in 1903, the Orchestra has an extensive history of touring throughout Minnesota, nationally and abroad, including high-profile visits in recent years to Cuba, Europe and South Africa. Recording projects undertaken in the past two decades include complete cycles of symphonies by Beethoven, Sibelius and Mahler, all recorded under Osmo Vänskä, who is now the Orchestra’s conductor laureate.
Nathalie Stutzmann has just been announced as Atlanta Symphony’s Music Director from the start of the 2022-23 season, becoming only the second woman in history to lead a major American orchestra after Marin Alsop. In addition, this season she begins her position as the Philadelphia Orchestra’s new Principal Guest Conductor. The three-year tenure will involve a regular presence in the orchestra’s subscription series in Philadelphia and at its Summer festivals in Vail and Saratoga. Finally, Nathalie is also entering thefourth season of a highly successful tenure as Chief Conductor of the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, a tenure which has just been extended by a further two seasons, to the end of 22/23.
As a guest conductor, Nathalie will begin the season 21-22 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Other guest conducting highlights this season and the next include performances with the London Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, Hamburg NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Helsinki Radio Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony.
Your Concert Experience
Join us for Q&A’s, hosted discussions, exhibits and more. All free with your concert ticket!
Pre-Concert Performance
by YPSCA Concerto Competition Finalists
When: Sat Mar 5 | 7:05pm-7:25pm
Where: Auditorium
Young People's Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA) Concerto Competition finalists Grace Weitzel (violin), and Orion Kim (piano), will give a pre-concert performance on stage.
Pre- and Post-Concert Activities Sponsored By
When Nathalie Stutzmann comes to town, standing ovations seem to follow.”
Video: George Walker - Molto Adagio, From String Quartet No. 1
Accessibility Services
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large Print Programs
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
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