CONCERT PROGRAM

Vítězslava Kaprálová: Suite en Miniature
Alessandro Scarlatti: Su le sponde del Tebro – Cantata for Soprano, Trumpet & Strings
Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 “Italian”

Despite her life being cut tragically short at age 25, Vitezslava Kapralova left behind an impressive body of work. Her charming and youthful Suite en Miniature, rooted in Slavic romanticism combined with French impressionist elements, confirms her remarkable talent. Her legacy lives on through the Kapralova Society, founded in Toronto in 1998 to champion her music.

Alessandro Scarlatti is best known for his operas and chamber cantatas. In the eighteenth century, these were regarded as a supreme challenge for a composer’s artistry, and Scarlatti does not disappoint with this poignant meditation on unrequited love.

Composed to fulfill a commission from the Philharmonic Society of London, Felix Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony was inspired by his impressions. At just 20 years old, he called it “the jolliest piece I have ever done.” Based on the saltarello, a lively leaping dance, the whirlwind finale is a true highlight.