Yonkers Philharmonic – Journey to the Far East

The Yonkers Philharmonic’s third concert of the season “Journey to the Far East” presents evocative Russian music balanced by Glière’s Concerto for Horn and Orchestra.

Glinka’s opera, Ruslan and Ludmila, is based a Pushkin fairy tale where Lyudmila, engaged to knight, Ruslan, is abducted by an evil dwarf. Ruslan, after encountering various super-natural creatures and other fantastical happenings, rescues his beloved.  The Ruslan and Ludmilla overture is the perfect appetizer to an afternoon of wonderful imagery and musical delight.

Glière’s Horn Concerto in B-flat Major, Op. 9 is perhaps the best known of Glière’s acclaimed works. The addition of valves in the early 19th century allowed composers a greater flexibility in their compositions, and the horn became a full range solo instrument. If you’ve ever wondered what a French horn is and can do then you need to hear soloist David Jolly perform this piece. Get your questions ready for the Q&A after his performance and before intermission.

The afternoon culminates with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.  Your imagination will take flight as you listen to a feast of sumptuous colors and brilliant instrumental effects.  While taking inspiration from the story of Scheherazade spinning her tales to the Sultan for 1,001 nights Rimsky-Korsakov wants the listener to draw their inspiration from the music itself.  It will be an uplifting and inspirational afternoon.