A banquet of music will be served up Saturday night in the grand hall of the Music Center at Strathmore, as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra welcomes the powerhouse maestro of the St. Petersburg classical music scene, Vasily Petrenko. The Russian conductor presents two masterpieces from his country’s repertoire: “Capriccio Espagnol” by Rimsky-Korsakov to open the evening and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3 to close it out.
Sandwiched between these two, Irish pianist Barry Douglas, winner of the Gold Medal at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, Moscow, brings Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 to the table.
| Onstage |
| BSO Classical Concert: Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony |
| » Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda |
| » When: 8 p.m. Saturday |
| » Info: $28 to $88; 410-783-8000, 877-BSO-1444; bsomusic.org |
“The Piano Concerto No. 1 is quite an amazing departure, written in one movement,” noted Douglas of Liszt’s groundbreaking composition that influenced so many of his contemporaries. “Although there are four distinct sections which are of different beats and moods … he transforms these into all sorts of characters. The whole thing is an incredible kind of concise piece, but it is also incredibly beautiful and very passionate.”
Douglas explains that, like many concertos, Liszt’s work is complex, and the conductor, orchestra and pianist must work extra-diligently together to make sure the piece is seamless and all of the components jell. Douglas is confident, adding that Petrenko “is in the happy position of being a wonderful collaborator, a wonderful partner and a fabulous conductor.”
Indeed, the experienced Petrenko will bring to the “Capriccio Espagnol” all of the brilliance accorded the Spanish folk-melodies that Rimsky-Korsakov envisioned when he expressed that the piece “was to glitter with dazzling colors.”
Rachmaninoff’s brilliant Third Symphony, which serves as a blazing finale, is considered one of the composer’s finest works and a masterful example of intricate use of Russian melodies and rhythms.
While the repertoire stands on its own, the performers — especially soloist Douglas — want audiences to walk away from this musical banquet completely satisfied.
“I want the audience to feel that time stands still and everybody is moved and affected and inspired by the music,” said Douglas. That’s what we all want at the end of a performance: for the audience to feel that it all passes in the blink of an eye and time doesn’t make a difference anymore. Then you know you did your job.”
