DVOŘÁK'S NEW WORLD

Košice State Philharmonic
Tomáš BRAUNER, conductor
Maria IOUDENITCH, violin

Program:

Ján Levoslav Bella: Concert Overture in E-flat Major 6'
Samuel Barber: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14 25'

— intermission —

Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 “From the New World” 40’

Ján Levoslav Bella’sConcert Overture in E-flat Major is a key work in the Slovak orchestral tradition. The piece was composed during the composer’s time in Kremnica in 1876. For Bella, this was a period of intense exploration of the character of Slovak music. The Concert Overture is his third orchestral composition. Although the composer drew inspiration from Slovak folk song melodies, his instrumental works also reflect his affiliation with European Neo-Romanticism. He was particularly influenced by the aesthetics of Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner, with whom he shared a sense of dramatic structure and a rich orchestral sound. The composition employs the principles of the Classical-Romantic sonata form and begins with a monumental and pompous introduction that foreshadows the work’s festive mood.

The Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14, bythe American composer Samuel Barber is one of the most dazzling gems of the 20th-century violin repertoire. Barber completed the work in 1939 and, remaining true to his distinctive musical language, created a composition in the neo-Romantic spirit. At a time when the European and American musical avant-garde was driven by strict, rational constructivism, Barber produced a work full of heartfelt melody, tonal purity, and unbridled emotion. The concerto captivates with its unconventional, dramaturgically asymmetrical structure, in which the first two lyrical movements stand in sharp contrast to the third. The concerto was an immediate success and continues to fascinate audiences today with its blend of intimate lyricism and fierce temperament.

Antonín Dvořák reached the pinnacle of his compositional mastery with Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World.” Dvořák’s most popular work worldwide was composed during the first year of the composer’s stay in the United States and represents a perfect symbiosis of content and form. The symphony’s overall character is primarily the result of inspiration drawn from a new environment and new cultural influences, which the composer’s creative ingenuity transformed into a work of exceptional quality. The symphony adheres to classical structures rooted in the deep traditions of European music. It offers admirable melodic richness, clarity of line, stirring rhythms, astonishing vitality, and a perfect balance of all musical elements. The work represents a fascinating fusion of the Czech musical tradition, American influences, and Dvořák’s artistic visions.