Today we honor the birthday (1874) of Josef Suk, devoted protégé and son-in-law of Antonin Dvorák, and grandfather as well as namesake of the famous violinist Joseph Suk.
Suk’s youthful “Humoreska,” which pianist David Golub calls a “small jewel” begins our evening. In our second hour, we feature the “Asrael” Symphony, named for the Angel of Death who carries away the souls of the departed. “Asrael” was begun in January 1905, six months after the death of Dvorák, to whom he was deeply devoted. He was working on the fourth movement when, in July, his wife Otikla also died. The fourth movement was begun anew in that December, and a fifth movement followed soon after. The first three movements remained a tribute to his father-in-law, but those last two were a deeply felt memorial to Otilka. The score’s dedication translates “To the noble memory of Dvorák and Otilka.” It is a long work, almost a full hour, but perhaps his greatest, having been compared to Mahler in its structural mastery and emotional impact.
Marjan Mozetich composed his “The Passion of Angels” at the behest of the two featured harp soloists, Nora Bumanis and Julia Shaw. He says that it “explores three related but distinct degrees of passion: longing, desire, and ecstasy. . . . the harps act as a catalyst for the orchestra to embark on a voyage of feeling.” Mario Bernardi conducts the CBC Vancouver Orchestra. Johannes Brahms will escort us out this evening: first, his Piano Trio No. 2 with the Golub-Kaplan-Carr trio, and then his “Psalm 13” as sung by the Trinity College Choir, Cambridge, under Richard Marlow.
Suk’s youthful “Humoreska,” which pianist David Golub calls a “small jewel” begins our evening. In our second hour, we feature the “Asrael” Symphony, named for the Angel of Death who carries away the souls of the departed. “Asrael” was begun in January 1905, six months after the death of Dvorák, to whom he was deeply devoted. He was working on the fourth movement when, in July, his wife Otikla also died. The fourth movement was begun anew in that December, and a fifth movement followed soon after. The first three movements remained a tribute to his father-in-law, but those last two were a deeply felt memorial to Otilka. The score’s dedication translates “To the noble memory of Dvorák and Otilka.” It is a long work, almost a full hour, but perhaps his greatest, having been compared to Mahler in its structural mastery and emotional impact.
Marjan Mozetich composed his “The Passion of Angels” at the behest of the two featured harp soloists, Nora Bumanis and Julia Shaw. He says that it “explores three related but distinct degrees of passion: longing, desire, and ecstasy. . . . the harps act as a catalyst for the orchestra to embark on a voyage of feeling.” Mario Bernardi conducts the CBC Vancouver Orchestra. Johannes Brahms will escort us out this evening: first, his Piano Trio No. 2 with the Golub-Kaplan-Carr trio, and then his “Psalm 13” as sung by the Trinity College Choir, Cambridge, under Richard Marlow.
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