Music & Dance

Thursday, October 19, 2000 20:00     Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium     200

Program

¨Piano concerto No 2¨
Sergei Rachmaninov
Pianist: Mikhail Petukhov
Choreographer: Jin Xing

Intermission

¨Carmina Burana¡¨ Carl Orff
Tenor: John Daniecki
Baritone: Peter Edelmann
Soprano: Sonora Vaice
Choreographer: Jin Xing

Conductor: Chen Xieyang

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
The Chorus of the Central Opera Theatre of China
Shanghai Opera House Chorus & Dance Troupe
Co-production with the Shanghai Grand Threatre

Acknowledgment: Coro da Escola Kao Yip de Macao


Piano concerto No 2
The C Minor Piano Concerto was written in 1900 and 1901 and is dedicated to Dr. Nikolay Dahl, under whom Rachmaninov had undergone a course of psychiatric treatment that restored his creative urge. The second and third movements of a work that was to prove to be one of the most popular romantic piano concertos, were completed in the summer of 1900 and the first movement in the following year. In November 1901 it was performed in Moscow under the direction of Rachmaninov¡¦s cousin, Alexander Ziloti, with the composer as soloist and was received with the greatest enthusiasm. The work has retained its position in the repertoire, although it has at the same time served as a model for regrettably vulgar imitations that have nothing of the innovative inspiration of the original.
The first movement of the concerto opens with eight dramatic chords from the piano, followed by the first theme from the strings, accompanied by piano arpeggios. The second subject, played by the soloist, is introduced by a phrase on the viola, rhapsodic style by the pianist in a development and in a recapitulation to which the soloist adds an initially martial element.
In the slow movement the orchestra moves gently from the key of C minor to the remote key of E major, in which the soloist entes with characteristic figuration. The principal theme is introduced by flute and clarinet, before being taken up by the soloist. The more rapid central section of the movement suggests the mood of a scherzo, leading to a powerful cadenza.
With scarcely a pause the orchestra introduces the final movement, a further cadenza leading to the first theme, with a second announced by the oboe and violas. Both are treated rhapsodically by the soloist, the second theme forming a romantic contrast to the more energetic rhythm of the first.


Carmina Burana
Scenic cantata by Carl Orff, with optional mimed action. First produced at Frankfurt 1937. Text " student songs about wine, women and love" based on poems in Latin, from MS dated 1280 found in Benedictine Monastery of Beuron, Bavaria, Germany. Written in simple techniques such as part writing in unisons, octaves and thirds, and with many repetitions. The work made a name for the composer.