Orchestra's all-Russian night in Wellington

ORCHESTRA WELLINGTON’S FIFTH SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT “PROVIDENCE”

Overture on Three Russian Themes Mily Balakirev
Piano Concerto in D-flat Major, Op 38 Aram Khachaturian
Symphony No 5 in E minor Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Orchestra Wellington
Marc Taddei, Musical Director
Michael Houstoun, Piano

IN a year largely dedicated to Russian music, Orchestra Wellington reveals some delightful lesser-known corners of this territory alongside popular works of commanding genius.

It is certainly genius that inspires Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. At the height of his powers, an established composer and successful conductor, his mature style speaks forcefully of his inner life in a way that resonates with emotions of his listeners.

His thoughts about the symphony, sketched out in one of his notebooks, call its sombre opening theme, “Complete resignation before Fate, or … before the inscrutable predestination of Providence”. But the symphony’s heart is its gloriously romantic slow movement, with its famous horn solo. This lovesong, the graceful waltz that follows, and the fireworks of the last movement seem to defy gloomy Providence.

In the West we know little of the music of Khachaturian beyond the Violin Concerto made famous by Yehudi Menuhin, and the Adagio from his ballet Spartacus. But Khachaturian, himself a pianist, first attracted attention in the West with his piano concerto. Khachaturian drew on a wealth of inspiration from his childhood in Tbilisi, Georgia. “Everybody sang: the artisan as he worked in his little yard… the street vendors selling Georgian sour milk, fruit and fish. Each vendor had an individual melody of his own, an expressive motif that I shall never forget. As evening fell, the courtyards were filled with songs and dance melodies, now gay and carefree, now tender and languid.”

Those impressions fill this concerto with fresh folkloric delight. New Zealand’s leading pianist, Michael Houstoun, returns to perform it with Orchestra Wellington.

To open the concert, Orchestra Wellington presents an overture by one of the Mighty Five, Balakirev, whose search for an authentically Russian voice was a seminal influence on the great composers who came after him. A colourful and energetic work, two of its melodies will seem familiar; Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky later made use of them.

“PROVIDENCE”

Saturday 7 November, 7:30pm
Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

Tickets from Ticketek, 0800 842 538

Ticket Prices:
Adult Full Price $60
Under 35, (with ID), $25
Concession (Gold Card Holder), $48
Community Services Card $12
Student (with ID) $12
Child (still at school) $10

/ENDS

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