Janacek, Weber & Brahms

The Philadelphia Orchestra welcomes special guest conductor Andres Orozco-Estrada for a rousing program of Eastern European classical music, beginning with Czech composer Leos Janacek's rhapsodic tone poem Taras Bulba. Finished in 1918 and inspired by the novel by Russian dramatist Nikolai Gogol, it became one of Janacek's most famous works thanks to its vivid depiction of the titular fifteenth century hero and his tragic tale, brought to glorious life with fanfares, soaring melodies and traditional folk harmonies.

The ensemble's Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales will then step into the spotlight for Carl Maria von Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 2, a spectacular composition that uses operatic phrasing and expressive dynamics to really show off the rich tone of the instrument. The evening ends with the often overlooked Symphony No. 3 by Brahms. Perhaps his most lyrical and well crafted symphony, the work is rich in romance and subtly, with each movement ending softly contrary to conventions of the canon.