A Evening of Contemporary & Time-Honored Classical Music at Teatro Verdi

The Orchestra della Toscana has a tradition of commissioning new works to contemporary musicians, which have their world premiere within a program featuring pieces by renowned composers of the past.  This creative presentation characterizes the January 28 concert at Teatro Verdi (9 pm).

The evening will open with the debut of Grande Danse by Paolo Catenaccio, a composition in six movements that is a metaphor for the birth of the planet Earth, “from an explosion of darkness to the light,”  according to the composer. The title “Dance in Movement” is meant to reflect energy in movement and the process of change, mutation and transformation.  Catenaccio works closely with the orchestra so these ideas can be evident in their interpretation.

This will be followed by Romantic composer Tchaikovsky’s Variations on Rocco Theme, Op. 33 for Cello and Orchestra, which poses a challenging interchange between the soloist and orchestra. Here is is clear that Tchaikovsky was inspired by Mozart.  Cellist Alexey Stadler studied in  St. Petersburg and Weimar, and was awarded the prestigious Tonali Gran Prix at age 21.  He plays on a David Tecchler cello dated 1715.

The concert will end with Symphony n. 36 by Mozart, known as the “Linz.”  Mozart wrote the symphony in four days after a stop-off in Linz when returning back to Vienna from Salzburg.  The structure is revolutionary for a symphony, punctuated by contrasts in tone, from an initial atmosphere of solemnity to liveliness, with theatrical overtones.

On the podium will be Balázs Kocsár.  A native of Hungary, he is known for his dramatic style of conducting.