From the riveting street fight between the Montagues and Capulets to the ravishing love theme, Tchaikovsky’s overture is beloved by audiences for its musical depictions of scenes from Shakespeare’s tragedy. British saxophonist Jess Gillam performs the world premiere of a concerto written for her by Anna Clyne, whom "The New York Times" has called “a composer of uncommon gifts.” The Fifth Symphony by Shostakovich is his most popular; its deep sorrow contrasts with unassailable optimism, though not without a heavy dose of satire.
Eerie strings, careening woodwinds, and foreboding brass portray a witches’ sabbath in Mussorgsky’s tone poem, expertly arranged after the composer’s death by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Grieg’s Piano Concerto opens with a famous and forceful descending motif before exploring melodic ideas influence...
