Spanish Romance and Stravinsky

Twentieth-century Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo wrote some of the world’s most beloved works for classical guitar. The Fantasia you hear here was commissioned by the legendary guitarist Andrés Segovia and premiered in 1954; it is performed by a guitarist whom the international press has dubbed the successor to Segovia.

Rossini’s opera Semiramide tells the story of the ancient Assyrian Queen Semiramis, who, having gained her throne by killing her husband, falls in love with a young man she doesn’t know is her son, and then is killed by him. The Overture, which hits all of the dramatic high points of this lurid tale, has become an audience favorite. And little wonder! It’s a exhilarating display of musical fireworks.

The program opener, Ravel's Alborada del gracioso, alternates between splashes of bright color and moments of melancholy in music that imagines a lovers’ tryst. And this irresistible program dances you home on the witty wings of Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, a greatest-hits version of his ballet score. It’s a bravura showcase for the orchestra, filled with lyric charm and lovely surprises.