MARTIN MAJKUT
CONDUCTOR
BELOW, NOTES FOR THE OCTOBER CONCERT SERIES WITH THE RVS. FINGERS CROSSED FOR LIVE AUDIENCES!
Rogue Valley Symphony, Masterworks 2, Oct. 8-10
Sometimes I think of Astor Piazzolla as a painter obsessively trying to capture the elusive essence of its subject. For Piazzolla, the subject was tango. With its characteristic, highly addictive rhythm, it wormed itself inside Astor’s head. He was too smart to fight it. Instead, the composer fully embraced it, put his talents to its service and, in the process, created Nuevo Tango.
Revolutionized, rejuvenated and elevated, Nuevo Tango breached the boundaries of pop music and took the classical realm by storm. “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” is a fine example. Although the title suggests some relation to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, this was not so until the Russian composer Leonid Desyatnikov arranged the four pieces for the famed violinist Gidon Kremer. It is this version, written for solo violin and string orchestra, that you will hear on our concert. I am delighted that Tomás Cotik, a Buenos Aires native virtuoso, is taking on the solo part!
Unable to resist, I decided to add some Vivaldi and, since it is October, let it be the “Autumn” Concerto from The Four Seasons. And, who knows, maybe we will even decide to play something more.
My woodwinds were unjustly silenced in 2020. I am paying off that debt in several installments, starting with this concert. The RVS woodwind section (with the obligatory horn guests) will charm you with Petite Symphonie by Charles Gounod. Better known as one of French opera’s greats, Gounod was fabulously prolific in other genres as well. This “petite” gem will aptly demonstrate the fact.
“Good airs” is the motto for this concert. As the southern Oregon’s air finally cleared of the wildfire smoke, I invite you to inhale the aroma of our freshest concert offering.
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