Daniel Raiskin, conductor
Alexandra Conunova, violin 

Antonin Dvořák: Carnival Overture
Aram Khachaturian: Violin Concerto
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Leonard Bernstein: Symphonic Dances, from West Side Story

Aram Khachaturian is a Soviet Armenian composer who grew up surrounded by the folk songs and dances that permeate his music. Though they are nostalgic, his works are filled with high-flying virtuosity, tune-filed orchestration and exotic colours.

Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein is a virtuosic orchestral work fusing the iconic musical’s songs, dances and show tunes into a “serious” concert work of considerable difficulty.

Anton Dvorák’s Carnival Overture is part of the 1892 triptych “Nature, Life, and Love,” consisting of three overtures: In Nature’s Realm, Carnival, and Othello. It premiered in Prague shortly before the composer departed for the new world.

Shakespeare’s tragedy and Tchaikovsky’s tortured personal life crash together in the dramatic and achingly beautiful Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture. Paired with Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances, we share two musical tales of the star-crossed lovers in one matinée.