BWW Preview: PARK AVENUE CHAMBER SYMPHONY: INTROSPECTIONS: ELGAR & MENDELSSOHN... at All Saints Church, NYC

Park Avenue Chamber Symphony: Introspection: Elgar and Mendelssohn

All Saints Church, New York, New York / Saturday, 21 May 2016 - 8:00 PM

The mighty Park Avenue Chamber Symphony under the guidance of musical director and conductor, David Bernard, presents a richly eclectic program of classical and romantic masterpieces they have entitled "Introspection: Elgar and Mendelssohn." The program includes Mozart's Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major (K. 313), The Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, and Mendelssohn's Symphony no 3 in A minor, Op. 56 "Scottish."

The Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major (K. 313) was written in 1778, commissioned by the Dutch flautist Ferdinand De Jean in 1777. A great deal of ink has been spilled about Mozart's dislike of the flute, but you would never know it based upon the lovely music he wrote for it. The concerto in G Major is more than simply tuneful work with a delightfully strong and elegant melody; it also offer a wonderful opportunity to showcase the virtuosity of the player as well.

The Elgar Cello concerto is one of the masterpieces of the cello repertory and one of the most popular pieces as well. The concerto had a disastrous premiere, at the opening concert of the London Symphony Orchestra's 1919-20 season on 27 October 1919. Apparently a lack of rehearsal was to blame, but nonetheless, hard to believe as it may seem, the work managed to slip into relative obscurity for decades before its resurrection by Jaqueline DuPre in the mid-60s. Since then it has become one of the most beloved works in the repertory.

The Scottish Symphony was the fifth symphony composed by Mendelssohn, but the third one published. It had a lengthy gestation period after its conception in Scotland in 1829; Mendelssohn worked on his Scottish sketches when in Italy in 1831, but set them aside for over a decade, not completing the symphony until 1842. His passion for the British Isles was apparent early in his career with the success of his "Fingal's Cave Overture." But it was a visit to the Holyrood Chapel in Edinburgh that left the most lasting impression: "We went, in the deep twilight, to the Palace of Holyrood, where Queen Mary lived and loved. There's a little room to be seen there, with a winding staircase leading up to it. This the murderers ascended, and finding Rizzio, drew him out. Three chambers away is a small corner where they killed him. Everything around is broken and moldering, and the bright sky shines in. I believe I found today in the old chapel the beginning of my Scottish Symphony."

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony has repeatedly shown itself to be one of New York's unheralded treasures. This program will no doubt continue their legacy of first rate performances that are available and affordable for all New Yorkers.

Programme:

Mozart: Concerto for Flute no 1 in G major, K 313 (285c) Artist: Petra Rivero (Flute)

Elgar: Concerto for Cello in E minor, Op. 85 Artist: Inbal Segev (Cello)

Mendelssohn: Symphony no 3 in A minor, Op. 56 "Scottish"

Conductor: David Bernard

Introspection: Elgar and Mendelssohn

All Saints Church

New York, New York

Saturday, 21 May 2016 - 8:00 PM

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- Peter Danish

Classical Music Editor-in-Chief