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.