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Princeton, NJ 08540
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Tom Miller, Director of Public Relations
[email protected]
609-258-6524
McCARTER FLEXES CLASSICAL MUSIC MUSCLE
WITH A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA
Stéphane Denève, Principal Guest Conductor, with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Photo by Jessica Griffin.
PRINCETON, NJ: On Saturday, February 11th at 8 p.m. in the Matthews Theatre, McCarter Theatre
Center will present a special performance by the renowned Philadelphia Orchestra with Principal
Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève and featuring pianist Denis Kozhukhin. Marking the orchestra’s
first performance at McCarter in 30 years, this robust evening will consist of Rachmaninoff’s Piano
Concerto No.3 in D minor, Op.30 and Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 in A major, Op.92.
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op.30
By 1909, when Rachmaninoff composed his Third Piano Concerto, the 36-year-old had already
established worldwide renown both as a composer and as one of the greatest pianists of the era.
Invited to make his first American tour that winter, the composer began to prepare a new concerto
for his appearances here.
The result was nothing short of a miracle, and in the century since its inception, the D-minor
Concerto has grown so popular among audiences that it has threatened to usurp the Tchaikovsky
First as “the” Romantic piano concerto—i.e., the piece on which every virtuoso pianist must prove
his or her musical mettle. The popularity of the movie Shine (1996) introduced an even vaster
audience to the “Rach 3.”
A Closer Look In terms of the interplay of soloist and orchestra, the Third Concerto is probably the
most impressive work in the Romantic literature. Not only does the composer use his large
orchestra transparently, but he also provides the soloist with a piano part so massive that it really
does seem an equal to the large ensemble behind it.
Performance time is approximately 45 minutes.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op.92
Many of what are today considered Beethoven’s most highly esteemed compositions, especially
ones from late in his career, were initially received with a complex mixture of admiration,
bewilderment, and resistance. Occasionally Beethoven wrote something that was recognized as
both artistically monumental and hugely popular. An example is the second movement of his
Seventh Symphony, a piece that was sometimes performed separately from the complete
Symphony and that may have been Beethoven’s most prized orchestral composition. It also exerted
extraordinary influence on later composers such as Schubert and Mendelssohn.
After its premiere in 1813, the Seventh Symphony was repeated in Vienna three times during the
following 10 weeks; at one of the performances the “applause rose to the point of ecstasy,”
according to a newspaper account. The Leipzig Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung reported that “the
new symphony (A major) was received with so much applause, again. The reception was as
animated as at the first time; the Andante [sic] (A minor), the crown of modern instrumental music,
as at the first performance, had to be repeated.” The Symphony’s appeal is not hard to understand.
In scope and intensity, it is fully Beethovenian. The ambition of the first movement, beauty of the
second, the breathlessness of the scherzo, and relentless energy of the finale greatly impressed
audiences. Beethoven himself called it “one of the happiest products of my poor talents.”
Performance time is approximately 35 minutes.
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Formed in 1900, The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the preeminent orchestras in the world,
renowned for its distinctive sound, desired for its keen ability to capture the hearts and
imaginations of audiences, and admired for a legacy of imagination and innovation on and off the
concert stage. The Orchestra is inspiring the future and transforming its rich tradition of
achievement, sustaining the highest level of artistic quality, but also challenging—and exceeding—
that level, by creating powerful musical experiences for audiences at home and around the world.
Stéphane Denève, Principal Guest Conductor
As principal guest conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Stéphane Denève spends multiple
weeks each year with the ensemble, conducting numerous concert events. Making his debut in
2007, he has led more programs than any other guest conductor in repertoire that has spanned
more than 100 works, ranging from Classical through the contemporary, including presentations
with dance, theater, film, and cirque performers.
Denis Kozhukhin, piano
Denis Kozhukhin’s playing is characterized by an extraordinary technical mastery balanced by a
sharp intelligence, calm maturity and wisdom. Kozhukhin has that rare and special gift of creating
an immediate and compelling emotional connection with his audience. Since winning First Prize in
the 2010 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels at the age of 23, Kozhukhin has quickly
established a formidable reputation and has already appeared at many of the world’s most
prestigious festivals and concert halls.
Additional Content
-The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 1944 recording of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92,
conducted by Eugene Ormandy.
-Principal Guest Conductor Stéphane Denève describes his excitement working with the famed
Philadelphia Orchestra.
-Pianist Denis Kozhukhin performs Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 at the International Piano
Competition in Leeds, England in 2006.
Ticket Information
The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform on Saturday, February 11 at 8p.m. in the Matthews
Theatre. Tickets for this performance are $70 - $100 and are on sale now at the McCarter Theatre
Center Ticket Office, by phone at 609-258-2787, or online at www.mccarter.org.
$15 Student tickets are available at the McCarter Theatre Center Ticket Office, with I.D.
Notes on works to be performed provided by The Philadelphia Orchestra.
This special presentation is a part of McCarter Theatre Center’s Signature Series, which is curated
by Special Programming Director William W. Lockwood, the driving force behind McCarter Theatre
Center’s reputation as one of the premiere arts presenters in the country.
The 2016-2017 Signature Series is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. McCarter Theatre
Center is supported by Princeton University, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and over
3,000 individuals, corporations, and foundations. McCarter Theatre is located at 91 University Place
in Princeton, NJ. For more information, www.mccarter.org.