Debussy
Prélude À L'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun)
(10 minutes)
Walton
Cello Concerto
(30 minutes)
Rachmaninoff
Symphony No. 2
(60 minutes)
Benjamin Zander, conductor
Leland Ko, cello
Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, is—to only a slightly lesser degree than The Rite of Spring—a work that revolutionized music around the beginning of the 20th century, with its gossamer textures, subtle voluptuousness and elusive harmonies. Sixty-seven years ago Walton's Cello Concerto premiered in Symphony Hall with the legendary cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. BPYO alum Leland Ko, recent first prize winner of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) Competition, will bring it home again, with his richly lyrical tone and virtuosic flair. Maestro Zander says of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2, "It overflows with love. From its first notes, emotion-drenched themes well up in an unstoppable flood, all clothed in Rachmaninoff's most gorgeous orchestration."
-Benjamin Zander
This is a live concert that will be live-streamed! Please read through our support page for Boston Philharmonic virtual events. Our Live Streams and On Demand events are viewable on computers, smartphones, and tablets. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to view these events on your television.
All dates, repertoire, venues, and artists are subject to change.
Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 8:00PM / Symphony Hall
There will be no pre-concert Guide to the music with Benjamin Zander before the concert.
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