True: There's a Tchaikovsky symphony that was not performed in the US until 1962! Also probably true: You’ve not heard it before. Tchaikovsky started writing the Seventh symphony after his Fifth Symphony—so it would have been his sixth (hey, the real Sixth isn’t bad either!)—but he abandoned it because he thought it uninteresting. Au contraire, monsieur! Tchaikovsky had written sketches for four movements before he died. Soviet composer Semyon Bogatryev completed a reconstruction in 1955. With its beguiling main theme and its bright, propulsive drama, we’re sure this Seventh Symphony will have you agreeing with Tchaikovsky, who said its essence is life!
Let’s start the afternoon with Cara Wang, co-winner of our Khuner Young Artist Concerto Competition, playing Elgar’s contemplative and elegiac Cello Concerto. It’s totally swoon inducing and one of the most loved cello concertos in the international repertoire.
Join us at 2:40pm for a pre-concert talk by Conductor Eric Hansen. Concessions at intermission in the courtyard. Tickets are free but required.