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
Review: Bach to America
This weekend the Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series presented “Bach To America,” a creatively programmed and wide-ranging concert featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Igor Stravinsky, and Alberto Ginastera. The evening opened with J. S. Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major.” Music Director Courtney Lewis dove right in, leading the ensemble with confidence and bristling energy. Cohesion amongst the musicians was tight and Bach’s intricate counterpoint was brought out with great clarity. Textures were … Read More
Nickel for Your Thoughts: Bach to America
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. Following an exciting season opener in which we featured the fantastic Daniel Hsu performing on our new Steinway, we turn the spotlight this week onto our wonderful … Read More
Program Notes: Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony
Overture to The Flying Dutchman Richard Wagner Born: May 22, 1813 in Leipzig, Germany Died: February 13, 1881 in Venice, Italy Wagner composed his great works exclusively for the opera house. Fortunately his music-dramas, as he called them, include a good deal of marvelous writing for orchestra. Whether as separate preludes or overtures, or as adaptations of music from within the … Read More
Review: Mozart’s Romantic Side
The Jacksonville Symphony’s 2021/22 Florida Blue Classical Series season opened in great style on Friday evening with a program entitled, “Mozart’s Romantic Side: Piano Concerto No. 20.” The concert featured a Mozart concerto alongside Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 21. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466, was first on the program, and saw the debut of the Jacksonville Symphony’s beautiful new Steinway concert grand piano under the masterful … Read More
Nickel for Your Thoughts: Mozart’s Romantic Side
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. Welcome back, everyone! We are incredibly excited to be back with what I think is our most exciting season since I arrived nearly six years ago. It’s … Read More
Program Notes: Bach to America
Concerto for Chamber Orchestra, “Dumbarton Oaks” (1938) Igor Stravinsky Born June 17, 1882 in Oranienbaum, near St. Petersburg, Russia Died: April 6, 1971 in New York City Dumbarton Oaks is an elegant estate in the District of Columbia that belonged to Mr. & Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss, wealthy patrons of the arts. On the occasion of their thirtieth wedding … Read More
Program Notes: Mozart’s Romantic Side
Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, K.466 Wolfgang Amadè Mozart Born: 27 January, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria Died: 5 December, 1791 in Vienna, Austria Brooding and chromatic, the D Minor Piano Concerto is a far cry from conventional Mozart. Listen for stormy outbursts, even in the slow movement. Mozart provided his Viennese audience with a sunny conclusion – but not until the coda of … Read More
Nickel for Your Thoughts: Schubert’s Great 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. We’ve made it to the end of an historic and amazingly successful season, managing to bring you live music in Jacoby Symphony Hall and online nearly every weekend since September, and we … Read More