These Russian-born composers charted routes of resistance and freedom that still resonate today. Tchaikovsky, secretly gay and openly enraptured with the music of the West, poured his love and anguish into the Violin Concerto that mixed Russian intensity into the impeccable traditions of the Classical masters. Stravinsky, untested and overlooked in his home country, astonished the crowds in Paris with his supernatural ballet based on the Russian fairy tales of the Firebird. Lera Auerbach, who defected from the Soviet Union as a teenage prodigy, has matured into an experienced talent who pulls no punches. 

Please note: The Dec 2 concert is a part of the Casual Conversations series. The program does not have an intermission. Lera Auerback’s ICARUS and the second movement of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto will not be performed on the Dec 2 program. 

Artists
Ankush Kumar Bahl, conductor
Simone Lamsma, violin

Repertoire
TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto
     I. Allegro moderato
     II. Canzonetta: Andante
     III. Finale: Allegro vivacissimo
LERA AUERBACH ICARUS
STRAVINSKY Firebird Suite (1919)

Casual Conversations | SAT, DEC 2 MEYERHOFF Purchase dinner pre-concert in the Main Lobby from Baltimore vendors Korarima (vegan Ethiopian), Emmanuella's Cuisine and Codetta Bakery, before enjoying the BSO's first Casual Conversation of the season.

Casual Conversations performances start an hour earlier than our usual classical concerts and have a new innovative format that weaves together the music with compelling and informative conversation segments about the nature of the repertoire and concert experience.

Ankush Kumar Bahl will be joined on stage during the program by WYPR's Midday host, Tom Hall, to reflect on and discuss the evening's program together. The program order is as follows:

TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto*
     I. Allegro moderato
     III. Finale: Allegro vivacissimo
STRAVINSKY Firebird Suite (1919)

Full Circle Dance Company will be performing in the Main Lobby post-concert, re-interpreting aspects of the evening's program into dance.

The appearance of Simone Lamsma is generously provided by the Peggy & Yale Gordon Young Artist Fund.