3rd Subscription Concert

Performers

Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Steven Mercurio conductor
Zuzana Rzounková, Martin Sokol, Jan Vobořil,
Jan Vobořil junior horns

Gypsy Airs op.20

P. Sarasate

Programme

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Night on Bald Mountain
Orchestrated by: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Robert Schumann
Concert Piece for Four Horns and Orchestra, Op. 86

Richard Strauss
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 (A Hero’s Life)
Symphonic poem for large orchestra

The Third Subscription Concert of the season will open with Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, in the orchestration by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This is one of the most famous pieces of 19th-century Russian music, depicting a witches’ sabbath. Next comes Robert Schumann’s Concert Piece for Four Horns and Orchestra—a technically demanding composition that calls for exceptional performers. The solo parts will be performed by musicians Zuzana Rzounková, Martin Sokol, Jan Vobořil, and Jan Vobořil Jr. The evening will conclude with the monumental symphonic poem Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life) by Richard Strauss. Often regarded as the pinnacle of his late Romantic style, this richly orchestrated work features a series of distinct woodwind and brass sections (including eight horns) as well as two harps, creating an exceptionally full and majestic sound.