Is it a concerto or a symphony with a fiddle in the middle? That’s the debate surrounding Brahms’ demanding Violin Concerto, in part because the orchestral writing doesn’t bow to the violin; instead, it’s in full throttle throughout. Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8, too often overshadowed by his great New World Symphony, offers an idyllic refuge of joy and harmony, with themes warm and amiable. Rounding out the program is Partita for Strings by Gideon Klein, whose creative voice rose from the darkness of the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II. These program notes include music excerpts.
Masterworks 4: Performances Nov. 12 & 13, 2022