Program Notes

Margaret Benedict, PhD, YPO member

Francois-Adrien Boieldieu 1775-1834 – Harp Concerto in C Major op. 82 – Three movements

In the early decades of the nineteenth century, François-Adrien Boieldieu was considered the most significant composer of comic opera in France. His felicitous melodic sense led his contemporaries to call him, “the French Mozart.”

When Boieldieu was in his early twenties he wrote extensively for the piano, which earned him a position as professor of piano at the Paris Conservatory. However, his love for the piano was challenged when he was living in Paris with Sebastian Erard, the inventor of the double action harp. It is believed that the Concert in C Major op. 82 and other harp concertos were written around 1801.

Gioachino Rossini 1792-1868 – The Wilhelm Tell Overture

Guillaume Tell, premiered on August 3rd, 1829. This was Rossini’s second French opera but also his last. The overture tells the story of how, Wilheim Tell, a 14-century Swiss hero, challenges Austrian rule by refusing to bow to the king. The Austrian emperor threatens William’s life for his insubordination, and he must shoot an apple off his son’s head with his bow and arrow; if he fails, both will be killed.

The overture is divided into four parts. Dawn: where the cellos evoke a pastoral Alpine sunrise. Storm: is a sudden dramatic storm that illustrates Tell’s boat escape on Lake Lucerne. Alpine Calm: is a bucolic, lyrical segment that depicts the Swiss Countryside. The last is the March of the Swiss soldiers: this ubiquitous finale celebrates the Swiss victory and freedom… also the theme of the Lone Ranger.

Leonard Bernstein 1918-1990 – Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

In 1960, Bernstein expanded the musical score for West Side Story. The orchestral suite, written in nine movements for a large orchestra, tells the story with a sequence of dances. Prologue, suggests the tension between two gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. Somewhere, is a dream that unites the two gangs. Mombo. the gangs meet in a competitive dance at the gym. Chacha, Maria and Tony first meet and dance together. Meeting, Maria and Tony sing their first words together. Cool, Riff, the leader of the Sharks, tells his gang to harness their hostility. Rumble, is the gang fight where Tony and Riff are killed. Finale, the two rival gangs reconcile and unite, fulfilling the message of Somewhere.