The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presented “Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony” this weekend, a program consisting of two nineteenth-century masterpieces led by guest conductor Jonathon Heyward. Richard Wagner’s Overture from “The Flying Dutchman” started the evening off with Mr. Heyward taking the reigns with confidence and conviction and the orchestra responding in kind. The strings were immediately notable for their warm yet incisive tone, which allowed them to maintain crystal clear clarity throughout even the quietest passages. The Jacksonville Symphony’s fantastic brass … Read More
Nickel for Your Thoughts: Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony
In his own words, Vice President & Artistic Administrator Tony Nickle shares what he believes to be the high points of the program, but with a little edge and humor for good measure. As a Northerner I can only enjoy 90 degrees and humid for so long every year, which is why November is always one of my favorite months … Read More
Review: Mozart’s Dream
The Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series returned with “Mozart’s Dream” this weekend, a concert featuring W. A. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major bookended by two works from Czech composers Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák. The concert began with Smetana’s well-loved Overture to “The Bartered Bride.” From the outset the strings displayed impressively strong intonation throughout the … Read More
Program Notes: Mozart’s Dream
Overture to The Bartered Bride Bedřich Smetana Born: March 2, 1824 in Litomyšl, Czechoslovakia Died: May 12, 1884 in Prague The exuberant opening fanfare of Smetana’s Overture to The Bartered Bride seems so familiar that one can hardly imagine the world of orchestral music without it. Yet this overture and the opera it precedes were landmarks for the nineteenth century. … Read More