US Tour: Ray Chen plays Tchaikovsky

Music director Vasily Petrenko, 2017 Gramophone Awards Artist of the Year, “has brought style and excitement to the RPO ... since taking over three seasons ago” (The Guardian). These qualities will be showcased brilliantly in their performance of Sibelius’ grand and luminous Symphony No. 2. With its gorgeous melodies, luxurious harmonies and a finale that is pure joy, it’s easy to see why the Second Symphony has become one of the composer’s most celebrated works.

Joining them on the first half of the program is the enormously popular Ray Chen, who is known to play a “virtuoso lick with a rock ’n’ roll stance, making it look mighty cool to be a violinist” (Violinist.com). He’s sure to be the coolest dude in the room when he takes on Tchaikovsky’s sweeping, melodious and virtuosic Violin Concerto, an undisputed crown jewel of the repertory. But first, the evening opens with Carl Nielsen’s life-affirming Helios Overture, the Danish composer’s radiant evocation of the sun god and his chariot journeying across the sky.

PRESHOW CLASSICAL CONVERSATIONS
One hour prior to this performance, join us in the Peacock Education Center for Classical Conversations, an exciting, behind-the-scenes look at the musicians, composers and history of what the audience will hear during the concert.