One of the most popular works of 19th century music is the centerpiece of our January Masterworks concert. Rimsky-Korsakov?s Scheherazade, a symphonic poem based on One Thousand and One Nights, is one of the most dazzling and colorful orchestral pieces to come out of the late 1800s Imperial Russia. Full of fresh, vibrant melodies and a rhythmic vitality, this symphony brings alive the enchanting tales of one of the most beloved characters in the literary history with music that matches Scheherazade?s storytelling prowess.
This concert also brings one of the world?s greatest violin soloists, Gidon Kremer, for his Naples Philharmonic debut. Kremer, along with cellist Giedre Dirvanauskaite, will perform Rózsa?s Theme and Variations for Violin and Cello, one of the classical works by a composer best known for his brilliant scores for movies such as Ben-Hur and Spellbound.
Gidon and Giedre will also perform a rarely heard concerto from MieczysÅ?aw Weinberg, a Polish-Jewish composer and Holocaust survivor who is considered the third leg of the trio of Soviet-era composers that included Shostakovich and Prokofiev. They recorded Weinberg?s works earlier this year with Kremer?s ensemble the Kremerata Baltica.