Rachmaninoff and Beethoven - Flint Symphony Orchestra
By Mark Flegg
Saturday, May 20, 2023 - 7:30pm
The Whiting
Flint, MI
Rachmaninoff - Vocalise from Fourteen Songs, op. 34, no. 14 Beethoven - Symphony No. 9, op. 125, D minor
FSO Rachmaninoff and Beethoven
This bold program of heavy-hitters is the perfect way to wrap up the 2022-23 FSO season. Vocalise from Fourteen Songs features soprano soloist Jhane Perdue. Rachmaninoff wrote a beautiful, melancholy melody reflecting the state of the time as World War I raged on. The soprano solo does not have any words or text, only singing on a syllable, which showcases the dynamic and expressive quality of the human voice.
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, one of the composer’s greatest works, is hailed as a milestone achievement in music history. Beethoven was one of the first composers to include a chorus and soloists in a symphonic format—this piece requires a large orchestra, with the FSO’s performance including 76 musicians for the performance. Though it is diverse and varied, the symphony is unified and coherent in form—meandering through beautiful melodies and exhilarating flourishes to arrive at the grand finale: Ode to Joy featuring a full choir and orchestra.