Penrith Symphony Orchestra continues its 2019 symphonic series with a concert devoted to Nordic and Scandinavian music on Saturday, May 25.
The program combines familiar audience favourites, Grieg's Peer Gynt and the Violin Concerto of Sibelius, with a wonderful modern work by Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara.
The evening's performance will begin with the fairytale magic of Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. In a richly evocative score, Grieg paints scenes of exotic people and places, sunrise over the desert, and even the hall of the mountain king. The music has featured extensively in popular culture, from film to television and everything in between; audiences will be able to pick out many of the memorable melodies.
Apotheosis is the final movement of Rautavaara's Symphony No. 6, Vincentiana, inspired by the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh. The music of Rautavaara, arguably the greatest Finnish composer since Sibelius, is as eclectic as it is idiosyncratic.
The concert will culminate in a performance of Sibelius' magnificent Violin Concerto. The work needs no introduction, recognised as one of the greatest concertos for the instrument, and is the composer's only foray into the concerto form. It is symphonic in scope, presenting soloist and orchestra as equals, interweaving the virtuosic solo part with the rich orchestral score of this late Romantic masterpiece.
Winner of the 2018 NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition, Emily Su appears as soloist in the concerto.
This performance will be conducted by Paul Terracini and begins at 8pm on Saturday, May 25, at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith. Tickets at the box office, at www.thejoan.com.au or 4723 7600.