Bella, Shor, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky by Bella, J. L., Shor, Alexey, Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, P. I., Thu 23 Nov 2023, From (2023/2023), Conductor Daniel Raiskin, Slovak Philharmonic, Bratislava, Slovakia

The central theme of Paganini’s Caprice No. 24 for solo violin served as the main theme for Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody, Op. 43. The composition in the form of variations follows a three-part structure corresponding to a piano concerto, and its technical brilliance and popularity are in no way inferior to the composer’s works in this genre. In the context of the competition for a modern Russian musical tradition, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, like Rachmaninoff, deviated from the nationalist members of the Mighty Handful and leaned towards the goal of integrating Russia into the European context. He found inspiration for his work in Dante’s Divine Comedy. In the book “Inferno,” there is the story of the beautiful Francesca da Rimini and her charming lover, Paolo. Tchaikovsky was going through a personal hell in his love life, and he transformed Dante’s subject into a captivating orchestral fantasy. Travel inspirations, on the other hand, were evident in the seven-part piano suite by the Ukrainian composer Alexey Shor. This musical “traveler’s diary” will guide us through cities with a long history, including Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Ravenna, Paris, and the English Ascot. Energetic, young South Korean pianist Yekwon Sunwoo studied at Juilliard and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He is the winner and laureate of several of the most prestigious piano competitions. He performed at the Reduta in 2017 as part of the Junior series with the South Korean KBS Symphony Orchestra.