Christoph Eschenbach, the National Symphony Orchestra music director, is leading the musicians and guest cellist Claudio Bohorquez on his first international tour with the ensemble. Following the first concert stop in Mexico City, they will head to Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru and Brazil. The NSO’s very first tour began in South America as part of President Eisenhower’s Program for Cultural Presentations. The most recent NSO tour was to China in 2009 under Leonard Slatkin to mark the 30th anniversary of Sino-U.S. relations. This time, in addition to performing eight concerts in major cities, the musicians will work with local students and musicians.
The program at each stop will be chosen from the six works performed at the two most recent NSO concerts at the Kennedy Center. The repertoire includes the “Roman Carnival Overture” by Berlioz, the Strauss Suite from “Der Rosenkavalier,” Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, “Blue Blazes” by American composer Sean Shepherd and Lalo’s “Cello Concerto” performed by guest artist Claudio Bohorquez.
“The Lalo concerto was maestro Eschenbach’s idea when I performed with him a couple of years ago,” Bohorquez said. “I learned it specifically for him and it has been a wonderful addition to my repertoire since discovering it. I’m happy to return to Washington under Eschenbach. He’s been a great influence on my career. I performed under him with the Chicago Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra when he was there, but this will be our first tour together.”
Bohorquez is thrilled to be part of the NSO’s Americas Tour and looks forward to playing in the magnificent halls there. He is especially excited to play for his grandmother in Montevideo, Uruguay, a city he visited as a youngster. Now a professor at the Stuttgart Music Academy, he believes it is the duty of today’s musicians to give to the next generation. He is eager to share his talents with the young music students he will meet in master classes during the tour.
“I’m happy to be part of the tour and return to countries where I’ve played before, this time with this great orchestra and great maestro,” he said. “It will be a thrill for the South American audiences to hear this outstanding orchestra from the United States.”
