GERSHWIN ’ S PIANO CONCERTO
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904 N Charles St , Baltimore , MD 21201 Bistro : 410-385-9946 Catering : 410-385-9956 Fax : 410-385-9958 marielouisebistrocatering . com from Russia and France to create ballet extravaganzas that looked as colorful as they sounded . In 1909 , seeking a composer to replace Anatoli Liadov ( dropped after he failed to meet his deadline ), Diaghilev had the happy inspiration to try the 27-year-old Stravinsky , who had hitherto worked for him only as an orchestrator . The Firebird was Stravinsky ’ s first major commission . “ Take a good look at him ,” Diaghilev told his leading ballerina Tamara Karsavina during rehearsals . “ He is a man on the eve of celebrity .” And indeed , when The Firebird premiered at the Paris Opéra on June 25 , 1910 to tumultuous applause , Stravinsky immediately became one of the hottest composers of the day .
The Firebird is a beloved creature in Russian folklore , and she corresponds to the Phoenix in classical mythology as a symbol of rebirth . The Russian folklorist Afasyev describes her thus : “ The feathers of the Firebird are effulgent with silver and gold … her eyes shine like crystal , and she sits in a golden cage . At darkest midnight , she flies into the garden and lights it as brightly as if with a thousand burning bonfires . Just one of her tail feathers holds such magical power that it is worth more than a kingdom .” The scenario of the ballet combines the Firebird with the legends of the evil ogre Kastchei , the Deathless One , and the captive princesses ( familiar to us as the Grimm Brothers ’ tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses ).
We will hear the 20-minute suite Stravinsky drew from his 45-minute complete ballet score . In the murky and mysterious Introduction , Stravinsky conjures the dangerous realm of Kastchei ’ s castle with ominous scales in muted low strings and menacing trombone snarls . Soon we hear in the strings the eerie sound of the Firebird ’ s wings . Prince Ivan climbs over the castle wall to try to capture her . He briefly succeeds in the “ Dance of the Firebird ”: some of Stravinsky ’ s most ingenious music , glinting with darting rhythms and prismatic , lighter-than-air colors from high woodwinds . The Firebird escapes , but leaves the Prince with one of her magical feathers .
More earthbound is the “ Dance of the Princesses ,” who , like Ivan , are ordinary mortals and captives of Kastchei . They dance a traditional Russian khorovode or female round dance , and the Prince falls in love with the most beautiful of them . Next comes the stunning “ Infernal Dance of King Kastchei .” Stravinsky ’ s rhythmic vitality is on full display in this brutal dance built from syncopations .
In the nick of time , Ivan remembers the magic tail feather and summons the Firebird . She forces Kastchei and his minions to dance until they drop in exhaustion . Lulling them to sleep with the rocking “ Berceuse ” led by solo bassoon , the Firebird tells the Prince that Kastchei ’ s soul lives in a buried egg ; if he can crush that , he will kill the ogre and break the spell that binds the princesses . The Prince accomplishes this and in the majestic Finale weds his Princess . Its melody , introduced by solo horn , is another authentic Russian folksong . The melody spreads through the orchestra , and the ballet ends in a blaze of bell-tolling Russian splendor .
Instrumentation : Two flutes including piccolo , two oboes including English horn , two clarinets , two bassoons , four horns , two trumpets , three trombones , tuba , timpani , percussion , harp , piano , celesta and strings .
PIANO CONCERTO IN F
George Gershwin
Born in Brooklyn , NY , September 26 , 1898 ; died in Hollywood , CA , July 11 , 1937
While George Gershwin ’ s Rhapsody in Blue of 1924 has become a ubiquitous showpiece on both classical and pops concerts , it is by no means the only work America ’ s favorite composer wrote for piano and orchestra . Every bit as appealing is his longer and more adventurous Concerto in F , which takes the Rhapsody ’ s attractive mixture of jazz and classical elements and builds them into a fullfledged three-movement concerto .
Although he had only the Rhapsody under his belt as a concert-hall piece ,
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