Midori and An Alpine Symphony

Teddy Abrams, conductor • Midori, violin

Chou Wen-Chung: And the Fallen Petals
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47
Strauss: An Alpine Symphony

The Louisville Orchestra swells in size and scope to mount an epic alpine adventure, with the intrepid hand of Teddy Abrams guiding the way through the brilliant orchestral swirls of Richard Strauss. The singular talent of Midori illuminates the sun-sparkling, ice-encrusted wonder of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto. A pioneering piece by Chou Wen-Chung from the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures, commissioned by the LO 60 years ago, draws you in close enough to hear what lives inside the stillness. Spare yourself the jet lag and take a transformative journey inward to the summit of the soul!

The LO-Down

Scott Leger, Horn

The horn used to be a way that people communicated with each other for all sorts of reasons, and you needed a loud instrument that could carry far. In the Alps, they used a giant wooden tube called the alphorn that people played on farms that were miles away from town. It plays a very specific set of notes, but there’s a lot of music that you can make out of those notes, and that sound is referenced directly in An Alpine Symphony. Beyond that, the horn had strong personal meaning for Strauss, whose father was a horn player. He had a deep understanding of how this instrument worked, and it was really a part of him.

The hardest part of the piece for horn is actually the solo near the end in the Ausklang section, which is supposed to feel like a cathartic sigh of relief. It had to be the horn there—there’s no other instrument that could sound so beautiful and so sad. It’s terrifying because of how intimate it is. It’s just you and the audience as you play something very somber and nostalgic.

Horns are big chameleons. We blend with the strings and the winds, and we also have to fit in with the brass. But there are these moments in huge works like An Alpine Symphony that activate eight horns as a single unit, and we completely take over the orchestra. I truly feel heroic in those moments, like some sort of protagonist, and it’s just glorious!

By Aaron Grad

Program

Jean Sibelius – Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Witness the mesmerizing talent of acclaimed violinist Midori as she takes the stage to perform Jean Sibelius’ powerful Violin Concerto in D minor. Her virtuosity will leave you spellbound, making this performance an absolute must-see.

Richard strauss’ – An Alpine Symphony

Experience the grandeur of Richard Strauss’ monumental An Alpine Symphony. This epic musical journey, known for its sweeping melodies and vivid orchestration, will transport you to the breathtaking vistas of the Alps, offering an unforgettable sonic adventure.

Secure your tickets now for Midori and An Alpine Symphony and start the new year with a musical celebration you won’t want to miss!

Special thanks to our series sponsor, the Brown-Forman Foundation

With significant support from 90.5 WUOL Classical Louisville