Tchaikovsky—
A Portrait
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Vance Brand Civic Auditorium
Begins at 7:00pm
Our “Portrait of a Composer” concert this season spotlights Tchaikovsky. A Russian born composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, was deeply inspired by Shakespeare when he wrote “Romeo and Juliet (Fantasy-Overture)”, the opening piece for our performance. One of the most popular pieces of its kind, Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 1”, will be one you’ll remember.
As our final piece, “Symphony No. 5” will leave you feeling triumphant. The first movement takes you from a subterranean soundscape into a mysterious march with a restless melody and dancelike rhythm, followed by a second movement which grows into a soaring and passionate statement then plunging into the lowest depths. The third movement is full of rhythmic games with irregular phrases. In the final movement, Tchaikovsky transforms the theme from minor to major, with trumpet fanfares ringing out. The music frequently teases the listener with the first notes of the theme, seeming uncertain ending with an exhilarant and triumphant celebration.
TCHAIKOVSKY
Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy-Overture
TCHAIKOVSKY
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso
II. Andantino semplice: Prestissimo
III. Allegro con fuoco
Intermission
TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
I. Andante - Allegro con anima
II. Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza
III. Valse - Allegro moderato
IV. Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace
Featured Guest Soloist
Marika Bournaki, Piano
Described as “the Celine Dion of classical” by The Huffington Post, Marika
Bournaki is at once a world-class performer, dazzling pianist, vivacious
young woman and one of the freshest faces on the classical music scene.
She not only brings distinctive interpretations to favorite standards, but
extends her passion for music by commissioning works from younger composers
and collaborating with artists from various fields. Her current season
is highlighted by a return, along with cellist Julian Schwarz, to Michigan’s
Jackson Symphony Orchestra for the world premiere of Marcus Norris’
double concerto for cello and piano, under the baton of Music Director
Matthew Aubin.Read more / Read less
Marika Bournaki has appeared as guest soloist with the symphony
orchestras of Bozeman, Duluth Superior, Richmond, Springfield, Topeka,
Montréal and St. Petersburg, along with Maryland’s Chesapeake Orchestra,
The Symphonia, Romania’s Timisoara Filharmonica, Switzerland’s Verbier
Chamber Orchestra and Canada’s Orchestre Métropolitain and Sinfonia
Toronto. In addition to a benefit recital for the Glenn Gould Foundation at
New York City’s Carnegie Hall, she has been presented in solo recitals and
chamber music collaborations throughout the United States, Canada and
the world, including Belgium, England, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania,
Switzerland and South Korea. Of special note was her survey of Beethoven’s
complete 32-work piano sonata cycle, presented by the distinguished
Bargemusic in Brooklyn. A devoted chamber musician, Marika Bournaki
performs regularly at Brooklyn’s Bargemusic, the Cape Cod Chamber Music
Festival and the Frankly Music series in Milwaukee, while serving on the
faculties of the Eastern Music Festival and Canada’s Lunenburg Academy
of Music Performance. She tours internationally with duo partner cellist
Julian Schwarz, and together won 1st prize in the 2016 Boulder International
Chamber Music Competition’s “The Art of Duo.” Ms. Bournaki is also a
member of the Mile-End Trio with Mr. Schwarz and violinist Jeffrey Multer.
The award-winning documentary “I am Not a Rock Star,” featuring Marika
Bounaki and directed by Bobbi Jo Hart, has captivated international
audiences of all ages. The feature-length film chronicles Ms. Bournaki’s
evolution as an artist from the age of 12 to 20. A runaway success at
multiple film festivals throughout the world, screenings of “I am Not a Rock
Star” and solo performances were recently presented across the globe. The
documentary is the recipient of awards for Best Arts Documentary and
Best Editing from the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards.
Marika Bournaki’s innovative approach to her art and performance is reflected in a number of multimedia projects intended to reach out to new audiences. Additionally, her role as Ambassador to the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal’s summer event, “A Cool Classical Journey,” afforded new and stimulating ways to share her music with the public. She holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, where her principal teachers were Yoheved Kaplinsky and Matti Raekallio. She and her husband, the renowned cellist Julian Schwarz, make their home in Virginia.
