Overture Magazine 2019-20 BSO_Overture_Sept_Oct | Page 27

MOZART VIOLIN CONCERTO
cathedral; by movement’s end, this gentle
idea will reach heights of dramatic pathos.
The complete melody then unfolds in
the violins, followed by a variation on it.
Already Brahms is announcing that the
variations process will be an important force
throughout this work. The overall mood
is subtle and autumnal, rising to heroic
tragedy over a heavy drum roll at the end.
The slow movement is full of
nostalgia and melancholy. A dark color
is established by the four horns, followed
by clarinets, singing the principal melody
in mournful middle register over a steady
rhythmic pattern in plucked strings. The
second theme in this compressed sonata
form is one of Brahms’ lovely yearning
tunes, sung by cellos below the high
violins. Of this movement Brahms’ close
friend Elisabeth von Herzogenberg wrote:
“It is a walk through exquisite scenery at
sunset, when the colors deepen and the
crimson glows to purple.”
Evening’s purple brightens to golden
daylight in the exuberant scherzo
movement. All melancholy is temporarily
swept away in the most extroverted, joyful
symphonic movement that Brahms ever
wrote. The ringing of the triangle intensifies
the jubilation.
And now comes the celebrated finale
with its passacaglia theme stated clearly at
the beginning by the wind instruments.
You may subliminally feel this pattern
throughout the succeeding 30 variations,
but you will be more conscious of the
overall emotional trajectory. Brahms groups
his variations in large blocks so there is no
feeling of starting and stopping. A slower
middle section opens with one of the most
beautiful, sorrowful melodies ever written
for flute. After a firm recapitulation of
the passacaglia theme, a dramatic set of
variations builds to a tragic coda, intensified
by pounding timpani. Here Brahms
achieves a Pyrrhic victory in a mighty
conclusion to his symphonic career.
Instrumentation: Two flutes including piccolo,
two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons,
contrabassoon, four horns, two trumpets, three
trombones, timpani, percussion and strings.
Notes by Janet E. Bedell, © 2019
MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE
Saturday, October 26, 2019, 8 pm
JOSEPH MEYERHOFF SYMPHONY HALL
Sunday, October 27, 2019, 3 pm
David Danzmayr, conductor
Stefan Jackiw, violin
Anton Webern
Six Pieces for Orchestra, op. 6

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219,
“Turkish”

Allegro aperto
Adagio

Rondo: Tempo di menuetto

Stefan Jackiw
INTERMISSION
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759,
“Unfinished”

Allegro moderato

Andante con moto
Johann Strauss II

On the Beautiful Blue Danube,
Waltzes, op. 314
The intermission will last 20 minutes. The concert will end at approximately
9:30 pm on Saturday and 4:30 on Sunday.
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
The appearance of violinist Stefan Jackiw is generously provided by the
Peggy & Yale Gordon Young Artist Fund.
About the Artists
David Danzmayr
Described by The
Herald as “extremely
good, concise,
clear, incisive and
expressive,” David
Danzmayr is widely regarded as one
of the most talented and exciting
European conductors of his generation.

Danzmayr is Chief Conductor of
the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra.
Last season, he led the orchestra in a
highly successful tour to the Salzburg
Festspielhaus where they performed
the New Year’s concert. In the U.S.,
Danzmayr is Music Director of the
ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, where
his contract was recently extended,
as well as the Artistic Advisor of
the Breckenridge Music Festival.
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