Bernstein, Gershwin, Ravel
Canadian conductor Julian Kuerti (Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra) makes his WSO debut with a program of American and French music from the early 20th century. Daria Rabotkina returns to perform Ravel’s celebrated piano concerto, written for one hand only and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, which remains an American classic – it was even performed at the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony in 2008.
Julian Kuerti, conductor
Daria Rabotkina, piano
Bernstein: West Side Story: Symphonic Dances
Ravel: Piano Concerto in D major (Left Hand)
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Ravel: La valse
May 14, 15 • 8:00 pm
Pines, Fountains & Festivals
Theatrical [and] ritualistic, Tan Dun’s music sculpts sound and transforms everything into a riveting experience that is hard to define but very easy to appreciate.
—Los Angeles Times
Performing one of Tan Dun’s creative and visual works, dynamic percussionist Haruka Fujii creates intricate rhythms using only paper!
We end the season with the colour and pageantry of Rome brought to life through Respighi’s stunning orchestral trilogy, rarely heard together in one evening.
Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor
Haruka Fujii, percussion
Tan Dun: Paper Concerto
Respighi: Pines of Rome
Respighi: Fountains of Rome
Respighi: Roman Festivals
Sept 25, 26 • 8:00 pm
Opening Night! Tchaikovsky 4
Lin’s performance is one of bigger contrasts between bravura and lyrical relaxation, wonderfully poetic as well as exciting and regularly illuminated by touches of spontaneous magic.
—Gramophone
Symphony No. 4 is Tchaikovsky’s response to Beethoven’s 5th symphony. It deals extensively with the idea of fate and is an intensely personal and emotional reflection of the composer’s being.
—Alexander Mickelthwate
Cho-Liang Lin performs Sibelius’ violin masterwork, his recording of which has long been acclaimed among the best ever.
Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor
Cho-Liang Lin, violin
Dvorák: Carnival Overture
Sibelius: Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4
Oct 30, 31 • 8:00 pm
Dvorák’s New World Symphony
The initial impression made by Christopher Rouse’s new Flute Concerto…is that it’s a certifiable hit. The work caused many in the audience to deliver a standing ovation; where contemporary music is concerned, that sort of reaction is about as rare as a cat smiling.
—American Record Guide
Inspired by his time in the U.S., Dvorák’s New World Symphony (now one of the most popular works in the modern repertoire) is a multi-cultural blend of Native and African-American musical traditions, and the composer’s Bohemian folk roots. Tovey’s Urban Runway offers a jazzy interpretation of American folk history – through the world of fashion.
Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor
Jan Kocman, flute
Bramwell Tovey: Urban Runway
Christopher Rouse: Flute Concerto 
Clip 1
Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 (New World)
Clip 1 Largo
Clip 2 Finale
Dec 4, 5 • 8:00 pm
The Creation
(The Creation)…full of fresh and vivid imagery, depicting all the manifold glories of the Creation with a pictorialism that’s nothing short of startling.
—Classical Music, The Rough Guide
We perform Haydn’s greatest choral work, with an all-star line-up of Canadian soloists, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death.
Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor
Donna Brown, soprano
James McLennan, tenor
Tyler Duncan, bass
Mennonite Festival Chorus, William Baerg & Rudy Schellenberg, co-conductors
Haydn: The Creation
Feb 19, 20 • 8:00 pm
Boreyko and Russian Masters
Mr. Boreyko’s Shostakovich was monumental and raw… he seemed intent on peeling away the political back story and playing the work for all its breadth and passion.
—New York Times – His 2007 debut with the New York Philharmonic
Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 is a piece I have loved performing since I was sixteen years old.
—Gwen Hoebig
Former music director Andrey Boreyko returns with a striking Russian program, featuring Shostakovich’s epic Symphony No. 10.
Andrey Boreyko, conductor
Gwen Hoebig, violin
Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10
