Last weekend, I attended a concert at Congressional Cemetery, part of their “Notes from the Crypt” series. It featured NSO musicians Angelia Cho, Carole Evans and Mark Evans with Andrew Eng (who performs with the NSO). They played a gorgeous program of Webern, Puccini and Mozart Quartets in the Cemetery’s tiny chapel, which is about the same size as a large living room. It is always a revelation to hear musicians step out of the ensemble and showcase their virtuosity.
Such will be the experience this week at the Kennedy Center, as Concertmaster Nurit Bar-Joseph solos in Beethoven’s two Romances for Violin and Orchestra. Her luminous playing on the 1773 Guadagni, ex-Grumiaux, ex-Silverstein violin, of these intimate, lyrical pieces will be the perfect foil for the Bruckner 9th Symphony which follows and fills the second half of the concert.
Manfred Honeck, whose 2020 recording of the Bruckner 9th earned him 3 Grammy nominations, will conduct.
It has been said that one must listen deeply, meditatively to a Bruckner Symphony, and that is especially true in his last, unfinished work. Here, in this symphony dedicated to “dear God,” the profoundly religious Bruckner wrestles with the eternal questions. The reward for the listener is a deeply spiritual artistic experience.
Program:
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Nurit Bar-Josef, violin
Ludwig van Beethoven
Overture to Fidelio, Op.72b
Romance No.1 in G Major for Violin and Orchestra, Op.40
Romance No.2 in F Major for Violin and Orchestra, Op.50
Anton Bruckner
Symphony No.9 in D minor
Nurit Bar-Josef Speaks About Her Role as Concertmaster
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