Tchaikovsky!
October 18, 2025
From Van Cliburn to the present day, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto is one of the most well-known and beloved in all the repertoire. Join us as Dr. EunAe Lee makes her BMSO debut with this monumental piece.
Program
Starburst...................Jonathan Leshnoff (b. 1973)
Royal Fireworks Music.......................Goerge Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
1. Overture
2. Bourrée
3. La Paix: Largo alla siciliana
4. La Réjouissance: Allegro
5. Menuets I and II
INTERMISSION
Piano Concerto in B-flat minor, Op, 23.....Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
I. Allegro
II. Andantino
III. Allegro
EunAa Lee, piano
Program Notes
Starburst by Leshnoff
A "Curtain-Raiser" with Energy, Starburst was designed as an energetic and exciting opening piece for concerts, according to the composer. It's full of fast patterns in the upper woodwinds and strings, creating a shimmering, bursting effect reminiscent of its name. The work packs a lot of musical content into its relatively short eight-minute duration. Critics have praised its ability to create a sense of optimistic elation and its innovative orchestration. Leshnoff skillfully blends various orchestral sections to build momentum and texture without relying solely on percussion for dramatic effect.
Handel's Royal Fireworks Music
King George II of Great Britain commissioned the work in 1749 to celebrate the end of the War of the Austrian Succession and the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The King requested a military band without stringed instruments. Handel wrote the score for a large wind band, including 24 oboes, 12 bassoons, 9 horns, 9 trumpets, and percussion. However, he later added strings for a performance at the Foundling Hospital. The premiere of Music for the Royal Fireworks occurred in Green Park, London, on April 27, 1749, before a fireworks display and a 101-cannon salute. A rehearsal six days earlier drew a crowd of 12,000, causing a three-hour traffic jam on London Bridge. The fireworks display was a disaster. It rained, rockets malfunctioned, and a rocket set the wooden pavilion on fire. Sound familiar? Despite the disappointing fireworks, Handel's music was successful.
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto
Initially, Tchaikovsky intended to dedicate the concerto to his friend and mentor, Nikolai Rubinstein but the famous pianist offered harsh criticism, deeming it "unplayable" and "bad". Tchaikovsky, deeply hurt but defiant, refused to change a note and instead dedicated the work to German pianist and conductor Hans von Bülow, who premiered it to great success in Boston in 1875. Rubinstein eventually changed his mind and became a champion of the work, performing it many times throughout Europe. The concerto has become one of Tchaikovsky's most popular and recognizable compositions. A particularly interesting aspect is the famous, grand melody that opens the first movement, played by the orchestra over the piano's powerful chords, which, remarkably, is never reprised in the remainder of the concerto.