Sir Mark Elder conducts the National Symphony Orchestra in Haydn's quirky Symphony No. 80. New Zealand conductor Gemma New leads the orchestra in Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with soloist Yefim Bronfman, and Gianandrea Noseda brings the house down with Saint-Saëns' "Organ" Symphony.
Show Notes
Program
Franz Joseph Haydn
Symphony no. 80 in D minor
Sir Mark Elder, conductor
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major Op. 58
Yefim Bronfman, piano
Gemma New, conductor
Camille Saint-Saëns
Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78
William Neil, organ
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Reflections by Nicole Lacroix
Last April, Sir Mark Elder was scheduled to conduct at the Kennedy Center, but the concert had to be canceled due to the pandemic. But back in May of 2018, he led the NSO in Haydn’s quirky Symphony No.80, which they hadn’t played in more than 30 years. Fast forward to January of last year, just before the string of cancellations closed concert halls worldwide, when the young New Zealand conductor Gemma New led the NSO in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4. The guest soloist was the formidable Yefim Bronfman. The Washington Post noted, “Bronfman’s technique was on impressive display—I would happily listen to him practice trills for an hour—but the real star was his touch, every note landing with the deep, measured heft and rounded gleam of an ingot.” But wait, there’s more: our NSO Showcase concert will end with Gianandrea Noseda leading the orchestra in Saint-Saëns’s “Organ” Symphony featuring soloist William Neil. “The Saint-Saëns was colored,” wrote The Washington Post, “by the rough punch of cymbals, the cry of trombones, the jabbing of violin bows as the instruments seemed to pant together for breath. [Noseda] was waking up the music, and the audience, who responded with enthusiastic applause.” Don’t miss the excitement. Join us Wednesday night, June 2nd at 9 on 90.9 and streaming all month from June 3rd on Classical WETA.org.