Beethoven composed his Violin Concerto in 1806, when he was deaf. From the onset, the music unfolds with a sense of spaciousness, its character more graceful than frenetic. This work is not about power and bravura but poise and spirituality. At nearly 45 minutes, it also requires a lot of stamina for the soloist. Also on the program are Šárka and Die Moldau from Smetana’s Ma Vlast, a set of six tone poems depicting life and nature in Bohemia. Die Moldau is Smetana’s most-performed work, as it so perfectly captures the flow of a great Bohemian river. The concert ends with Janáček’s Taras Bulba, which relies on contrasting sonorities, and his use of dissonance embraces rather than repels – no small feat.

These audio program notes include music excerpts.

Masterworks 9 of the 24/25 Season
Performances March 14, 15 & 16, 2025