Vienna Philharmonic at Lucerne Festival on Classical Showcase

This evening at 7 pm, Classical Showcase wraps up a series of concerts from the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland.  The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will perform under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, the exciting young conductor from Venezuela, who is currently the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  There are two major works on the program. Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D is regarded as one of the greatest of all concertos, and this performance will feature as soloist the young violinist from Armenia, Sergey Khachatryan.  He is already an outstanding international artist and is reaping praise, not only for his "dazzling display" of technical ability but also for his focus on the music. Beethoven's only violin concerto is one of his most beautifully inspiring and noble creations.  No storming the heavens in defiant rage or startling departure from accepted musical form.  This is Beethoven in elevated spirits and with a sense of repose as well.  Written in 1806, it embodies the culmination of the classical era's ideals of clarity and balance and yet, everything is on a bigger scale in this 45 minute concerto pointing toward the Romantic era to come as well as looking back. The other work is Symphony No. 8 in G by Antonin Dvorak.  The great Czech composer's next to last symphony premiered in Prague in 1890, just two years before he set sail for the United States to begin his his three year stay as head of the newly formed National Conservatory of Music in New York City.  There he wrote his Ninth and most famous symphony, titled "From the New World," that sometimes overshadows the more sunny Eight.  But the Eighth Symphony with its warm and optimistic tone is a delight in every way.  It gets its inspiration from Dvorak's beloved Bohemian countryside and folk music.  This work contains a remarkable variety of themes that come and go, with dance themes often leading the way.  The conductor Raphael Kubalik, in a rehearsal said about the finale which begins with a fanfare of trumpets, "Gentlemen, in Bohemia the trumpets never call to battle, they always call to the dance." Here's a call to enjoy some great music making from one of the great orchestras of the world in a festive setting on the shores of Lake Lucerne.   Join us for Classical Showcase tonight at 7 on Classical 101.