Concertmaster Jonathan Carney guarantees that “audiences will love” Erich Wolfgang Korngold?s “Violin Concerto,” which will receive its Baltimore Symphony Orchestra premiere this weekend.
He is also sure listeners will find parts of it instantly recognizable. Especially if they are old-movie buffs.
Austrian composer Korngold was drawn to the drama of music, Carney said. After immigrating to America in 1934, he soon became a respected composer on the Hollywood movie music scene, winning Academy Awards for his film scores of “Anthony Adverse” in 1936 and “The Adventures of Robin Hood” in 1938.
“I saw [the movie] ?Sea Wolf? on Turner the other night and parts of [its score] are in the ?Violin Concerto?,” he said.
So too, with much of the music Korngold wrote while in Hollywood. It seems the composer lost credibility in the classical-musical establishment and in an attempt to jump-start a previous serious career, he penned the “Violin Concerto,” conjuring themes from many of his most successful film scores. Violinist Jascha Heifetz and the St. Louis Symphony premiered it in 1948.
“It?s harmonically beautiful,” Carney said. Having performed the piece before, he added, “It?s totally avant-garde and technical, but also extremely lush and Romantic [in style].”
“[Carney] is an amazingly dynamic musician who is as much at home leading the string section as he is standing in front of the orchestra as soloist or director,” BSO Vice President of Artistic Administration Jeremy Rothman said.
The concerts also mark Maestra Marin Alsop?s final regular season appearance with the BSO before assuming her post as the orchestra?s 12th music director in September. As a noted interpreter of Brahms, she will also lead the orchestra in the composer?s final “Symphony No. 4.” In a piece that runs the gamut from anguished to ecstatic, many consider it Brahms? finest work.
IF YOU GO
The Maestra Conducts
BSO Celebrity Series
» Venue: Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore
» Time: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 3 p.m.Sunday
» Tickets: Meyerhoff $25 to $78, call 410-783-8000
Classical Saturdays
» Venue: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda
» Time: 8 p.m. Saturday
» Tickets: Strathmore $21 to $80
» More Info: 410-783-8000
