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