The Akron Symphony Orchestra begins its 56th season on Saturday, September 15 with an evening of Classic Beauty at E.J. Thomas Hall. Under the direction of Maestro Christopher Wilkins, the Akron Symphony will present familiar, classical music works by Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Brahms.
“We’re opening with a work of Tchaikovsky (highlights from The Sleeping Beauty), which we all think of as Romantic music. On the other hand, in the ballet world this is Russian Classical ballet,” said ASO Musical Director and Conductor Christopher Wilkins explaining the concert’s intended themes. “The ambiguity of these terms ‘Classical’ and ‘Romantic’ struck me. For example, that Brahms is considered a Romantic composer, but is sometimes described as having one foot in each camp, and that his second symphony is considered his most Classical. Mozart on the other hand represents high Classicism, but here’s his most Romantic work (Piano Concerto No. 24 in c).”
A change of plans
Guest pianist and 2006 Gilmore Young Artist Award-winner, Yuja Wang, 20, will be featured in the Mozart concerto. Born in Beijing, Wang has been playing piano since the age of six and has been amassing an impressive list of appearances with major orchestras throughout the United States and abroad. A recent review by the Boston Globe praised Wang’s “impressive virtuosity” and noted that she “had no trouble drawing in the audience, which was on its feet cheering immediately after the final chord.” It was this review that first brought Wang to Wilkins’ attention after Orli Shaham had to cancel her appearance due to pregnancy. “I was disappointed that Orli Shaham wasn’t available, but [she] is someone we will invite back soon.”
A rising star
Replacing Shaham wasn’t easy for Wilkins. “There were many possibilities, but I had already made up my mind that I wanted the C minor Mozart concerto. I had heard of Yuja from reading a review of her playing with the Boston Symphony, but when I heard her recordings… ten notes into it and I knew she had that special quality for Mozart. We have a shooting star on a rapid rise and that has its own special kind of energy for opening night.”
Akron gets its orchestra back
The opening night concert is just as special for the audience as it is for the orchestra, believes Wilkins. “I think that the opening concert has a gala feeling to it always, particularly in Akron where in the summer our activities are reduced. In September we get our orchestra back. I try to make it [opening night] inviting to the widest possible group. We always have the potential to win new friends and new subscribers.” -- www.akronsymphony.org
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