VERO BEACH — The Indian River Symphonic Association is pleased to welcome the Danish National Symphony Orchestra to Vero Beach on Monday, Feb. 16, marking its first appearance here.
Led by Cristian Macelaru, the recently appointed conductor-in-residence of the Philadelphia Orchestra and winner of the 2014 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of renowned Scandinavian composers Jean Sibelius and Carl Nielsen.
The Program will open with the Valse triste, Op. 44, No. 1 by Jean Sibelius, followed by Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47, featuring Ray Chen, Violin Soloist.
The Orchestra will also perform Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 (The Inextinguishable).
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) was the leading musical voice in Finland at the start of the 20th century, and the Valse triste became one of Sibelius’ most popular compositions. Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 was composed in 1903, performed and revised in 1904-5, but only developed its lasting reputation in the 1930s with the help of Jascha Heifetz.
Like his Finnish contemporary, Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) was the premier Danish composer in the early 20th century. Nielsen’s reputation has grown in recent decades, mainly on the strength of his six symphonies. The Inextinguishable Symphony was composed during the turmoil of World War I, and its title summarizes its central premise: “Music is Life, and like it, inextinguishable.”
The concert will be held on Monday, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m., at the Community Church of Vero Beach.
For tickets to all remaining 2015 Season concerts, please call Indian River Symphonic Association at (772) 778-1070 or www.IRSymphonic.org.