Beethoven Symphony No . 7
{ program notes
Tchaikovsky
exactly how the second movement ’ s waltz intermezzo acts here : it is an oasis of peace and beauty in the midst of suffering . But it is a strangely limping waltz in 5 / 4 time instead of the usual 3 / 4 . And its middle trio section features a rather intense violin theme that unsettles the waltz ’ s gaiety .
If death can ’ t be beaten back with a waltz , Tchaikovsky next tries a boisterous march in the third movement . However , first we hear nervously flickering scherzo music , with the oboe and brass peeping through with the march theme . This edgy scherzo continues to undercut the confident sound of the march . Watch out at the movement ’ s finish ! Tchaikovsky gives us an immediate shocking contrast at the introduction of the finale .
Exposing the falsity of the march ’ s triumph , at the opening of the finale the strings suddenly cry out a theme of utter despair . They are joined by the deathly partner from the first movement , the bassoon . A second theme for the violins seems initially gentler and more consoling , but it too rises to a shout of anguish . The first theme returns , its bitter cry now underscored by the harsh , ugly sound of stopped horns , a musical representation of what Tchaikovsky called “ the snub-nose reptile ” of death . The last moments of the symphony graphically portray the process of dying , as a heartbeat pedal gradually weakens and the orchestra drops to cellos and basses , then fades into silence .
Instrumentation : Three flutes including piccolo , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , four horns , two trumpets , three trombones , tuba , timpani , percussion , strings .
Notes by Janet E . Bedell , Copyright © 2017
Beethoven Symphony No . 7
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Thursday , January 12 , 2017 — 8 pm
Music Center At Strathmore Sunday , January 15 , 2017 — 3 pm
Marin Alsop , conductor Valentina Peleggi , conductor Jonathan Carney , violin
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio espagnol , opus 34 Alborada Variazioni Alborada Scena e canto gitano Fandango asturiano
William Walton
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra I . Andante tranquillo II . Presto capriccioso all napolitana III . Vivace
JONATHAN CARNEY
INTERMISSION
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No . 7 in A Major , opus 92 Poco sostenuto - Vivace Allegretto Presto Allegro con brio
The concert will end at approximately 9:45pm on Thursday and 4:45pm on Sunday .
Marin Alsop
For Marin Alsop ’ s bio ., please see pg . 7 .
Valentina Peleggi
Twice named a Gordon Foundation winner and awarded the Henry Wood Scholarship , Valentina Peleggi received the Fred Southall
Memorial Prize and the prestigious Ernest Read Conducting Prize in 2014 . Ms . Peleggi was the first Italian woman to enter the postgraduate international program of orchestra conducting at the Royal Academy of Music of London , where she graduated with distinction , receiving the honorary DipRAM for an outstanding final recital .
In 2012 , she was invited as assistant conductor for a live worldwide broadcast production of Rossini ’ s Cenerentola with
16 Overture | bsomusic . org