Program Notes: Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2

Program Notes: Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2

This episode explores music shaped by struggle and sweeping emotional range. Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 stands as a triumph born from personal crisis, unfolding in waves of brooding intensity and soaring lyricism that define the height of the Romantic concerto tradition. From there, Vaughan Williams expands the canvas with his Sea Symphony, a vast, multifaceted work that blends symphony, oratorio and opera. It sets Walt Whitman’s poetry to music that surges like the ocean itself — at once contemplative and monumental. Masterworks 14 of the 25/26 Season Performances May 29 & 31, 2026

Program Notes: Brahms' Symphony No. 4

This episode brings together three composers shaped by place, identity and tradition. In Augusta Holmès’s Irlande, pastoral beauty and mourning give way to a spirit of resilience, reflecting Ireland’s long struggle and enduring hope. Dvořák’s Violin Concerto follows, a richly lyrical work rooted in folk rhythms that ends the with a spirited dance, the Czech furiant. The program closes with Brahms’s Symphony No. 4, a work of striking emotional depth, culminating in a passacaglia that builds to a powerful, unresolved close — leaving us in a space where tradition and tragedy meet. Masterworks 13 of the 25/26 Season Performances May 15-17, 2026

Program Notes: Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2

This episode traces a path from nature to Beethoven’s first hint of the heroic ideal to a sense of national identity. In Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Cantus Arcticus, recorded birdsong merges with orchestra to create a soundscape that feels both organic and otherworldly. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 follows, capturing a young composer in transformation — and the first clear signs of his heroic voice. The journey concludes Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2, where fragments of melody gather into a sweeping statement that evokes both the Finnish landscape and a profound sense of national spirit. Masterworks 12 of the 25/26 Season Performances May 1-3, 2026

Program Notes: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7

Had Beethoven composed only one symphony, and it happened to be the music contained in his Seventh Symphony, he would still be idolized today. Its hypnotic rhythm is irresistible – as is the haunting allegretto movement, one of Beethoven’s greatest creations. Another rare treat is the U.S. premiere of Thierry Caens TribonesConcerto for Three Trombones, brimming with soaring melodies, dance rhythms andepic climaxes. The program begins with Ferde Grofe’s Mississippi Suite, celebrating its 100th anniversary. Masterworks 11 of the 25/26 Season Performances April 10-12, 2026

Program Notes: Beethoven's Symphony No. 9

This episode explores the final symphonic works of two iconic composers, Mahler and Beethoven – specifically his triumphant Symphony No. 9. The adagio from Mahler’s unfinished Symphony No. 10 sets the stage for the program. It evolves into an intense crescendo that would be Mahler’s final word as a composer. Then comes the bigger, bolder Mahler arrangement of Beethoven’s Ninth – an attempt to bring Beethoven into the modern era by retrofitting some of his music for larger orchestras and halls. Whatever the arrangement, the result is a glorious triumph of humanity, with an awe-inspiring Ode to Joy. Masterworks 10 of the 25/26 Season Performances March 27-29, 2026