CLASSICS: TCHAIKOVSKY’S 4th

The drama of fate, creation, and destiny lifts this program to celestial heights.

We welcome guest conductor Ruth Reinhardt — assistant conductor of the Dallas Symphony, Dudamel Fellow at the LA Phil, and guest conductor of orchestras here and in Europe. She’s selected a powerful program for Louisville that features pianist/composer Timo Andres as the soloist.

Andres is a composer and pianist whose work is blazing new trails. As a composer, his work has received international acclaim. His piano concerto, with the cheeky title The Blind Banister, was nominated for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Music. As a pianist, Andres distinguished himself with a Glenn Gould Protégé Prize and was nominated for a Grammy award for his performance in 2021’s The Arching Path, an album of music by Christopher Cerrone.

Andres performs the music of Thomas Adès. The piano concerto is titled In Seven Days and has been called impeccably crafted into a “…glorious cavalcade of glittering effects.” Adès shaped the work upon a “creation” theme followed by seven sections (days) that gain form out of original chaos music. Adés presents in music. the biblical story of how the Earth was made and populated with movements titled “Chaos,” “separation of the waters into Sea & Sky,” “Creatures of the Sea and Sky,”  “Creatures of the Land,” and closing with “Contemplation” — this work is original and absorbing.

Tchaikovsky took his own idea of Fate, the inescapability of destiny, and wrote of his own meeting with the forces of life. It may be dark but we share some moments of repose and reflection, even fleeting joys, with this emotional composer.

Mussorgsky, as the wild man of Russian music, gives us a vivid tone painting that expresses raw drama and dark textures of his concept of evil. This exciting piece is an audience favorite.

Concert Program:

Modest MUSSORGSKY (arr. Rimsky-Korsakov):  Night on Bald Mountain
Thomas ADÈS:  In Seven Days, Op. 25
Pyotr TCHAIKOVSKY:  Symphony No. 4

Ruth Reinhardt, conductor
Timo Andres, piano

LINK TO PROGRAM NOTES

BROWN-FORMAN FOUNDATION CLASSICS SERIES