Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos To Conduct NY Philharmonic in Works by Beethoven and Strauss, 12/12-14

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos will return to the New York Philharmonic to lead Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 and Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, featuring Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow in concertmaster solos, Thursday, December 12, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, December 13 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, December 14 at 8:00 p.m.

"Glenn Dicterow is a great concertmaster, and there isn't a much bigger solo than in Ein Heldenleben. Beethoven's Eighth Symphony is one of the most beautiful, happy symphonies ever written," Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos said.

"It's going to be an absolute revelation to play Ein Heldenleben with Frühbeck," Concertmaster Glenn Dicterow said. "He's basically a poet. He gets certain colors out of this orchestra, and the sound immediately changes. There's something spiritual about what he does."

Glenn Dicterow has performed the concertmaster solos from Ein Heldenleben 44 times with the Orchestra, including one of his earliest appearances as Concertmaster, when he performed the work for broadcast on Live From Lincoln Center in 1981. Mr. Dicterow recorded Ein Heldenleben with the Philharmonic, led by Zubin Mehta, for CBS Records in 1983.

"Strauss must have hated violinists because he wrote the most challenging, impossibly hard licks for the violin," Glenn Dicterow said, "but it ends with one of the most heavenly dialogues that Strauss ever wrote for solo violin and horn."

Strauss compared Ein Heldenleben to Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, Eroica. The composeracknowledged that "The Hero" and his beloved "Companion" depicted in the work are the composer himself and his wife, soprano Pauline de Ahna. The other work on the program is also tied to the composer's love: Beethoven composed his Eighth Symphony the same year he penned the famous un-sent letter to the woman he referred to as his "Immortal Beloved."

Related Events
? Pre-Concert Talks
Writer and music historIan Harvey Sachs will introduce the program. Pre-Concert Talks are $7; discounts available for multiple talks, students, and groups. They take place one hour before each performance in the Helen Hull Room, unless otherwise noted. Attendance is limited to 90 people. Information: nyphil.org/preconcert or (212) 875-5656.

? National and International Radio Broadcast
The program will be broadcast the week of January 19, 2014,* on The New York Philharmonic This Week, a radio concert series syndicated weekly to more than 300 stations nationally, and to 122 outlets internationally, by the WFMT Radio Network.

The 52-week series, hosted by actor Alec Baldwin, is generously underwritten by The Kaplen Brothers Fund, the Audrey Love Charitable Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Philharmonic's corporate partner, MetLife Foundation. The broadcast will be available on the Philharmonic's Website, nyphil.org. The program is broadcast locally in the New York metropolitan area on 105.9 FM WQXR on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.
*Check local listings for broadcast and program information.

Tickets
Tickets for these concerts start at $30. Pre-Concert Talks are $7; discounts are available for multiple talks, students, and groups (visit nyphil.org/preconcert for more information). All other tickets may be purchased online at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875-5656, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets may also be purchased at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office.

Pictured: Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Photo Credit: Chris Lee

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