Our upcoming September 11th and 12th concert, Victorious Return, is a celebration of heroes in our community and across the country, full of triumphant, gorgeous music. Jung-Ho selected these video links especially for you. Enjoy!
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs Symphony No. 2 by Johannes Brahms, conducted by Carlos Kleiber. Jung-Ho says that the greatest repertoire, like this Brahms work, illustrates why a symphony exists. Listen and you’ll hear that it’s light, pretty, and charming, but also has exuberant power. The breathless 4th movement ends on a terrific high. Brahms is honestly Jung-Ho’s favorite composer, and he can’t wait to conduct the Second Symphony for you.
If you spent time watching the Olympics this summer, then this next piece will sound familiar! Summon the Heroes was written by legendary composer John Williams for the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and you’ll recognize the beautiful brass tones. Here, Williams returns to Symphony Hall to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra. We’re performing this magnificent work to celebrate and thank the first responders, teachers, and all who stepped up and took care of our community during the pandemic.
In 2006, Robert Wendel composed Towers of Light to commemorate the tragic events of 9/11, drawn from his experiences with the annual light tribute to the 9/11 victims that took place in New York City. The Cape Symphony will perform this work to honor the 20th anniversary. Jung-Ho assures us that the music is not sad, it’s hopeful. It begins in the depths of the orchestra and rises until the whole orchestra is playing. Then, the music gradually subsides. The effect is serenity, peace, and love.
Check out the theatrical Promenade Overture by John Corigliano, performed by the TCU Symphony Orchestra, Germán A. Gutiérrez, conductor. It begins with a virtually empty stage. Faint notes begin. The drama of the orchestra returning to the stage unfolds. This will be an astonishing moment!
In this video, another legend conducts. Leonard Bernstein leads the Vienna Philharmonic in the Egmont Overture by Ludwig van Beethoven. The “Egmont” is one of Beethoven’s most well-known overtures because it’s so dramatic. The overture has a dark brooding introduction followed by a frenetic dizzying allegro. Then the music completely stops! This was so unusual for the early 17th century. The overture is almost like a movie score, hundreds of years before film existed. The exciting finale comes out of nowhere – you can almost see horses and soldiers coming over the horizon to rescue the day. The “Egmont Overture” is perfect for our theme of Victorious Return.
Join us in September for Victorious Return, a triumphant celebration of heroic survival and the Cape Symphony’s long-awaited return to the stage! Visit capesymphony.org or call 508.362.1111 to get your tickets today.