The fifth concert in the West Australian Symphony Orchestra’s Classics Series for 2018 combines the new with the familiar: an Australian premiere plus two exciting new stars of the classical music world performing two of the fixtures in the extensive WASO repertoire.
Masquerade by British composer Anna Clyne draws inspiration from the original mid-18th century promenade concerts held in London’s pleasure gardens. Fittingly, its world premiere was at the BBC Proms in 2013; and WASO is thrilled to present the Australian premiere at the Perth Concert Hall.
Masquerade will be followed in the program by the magnificent Cello Concerto by Czech composer, Antonín Dvořák. It was during the early 1890s when Dvořák was residing in America that he composed some of his most intensely, insistently Czech – and greatest – music, including this giant amongst virtuoso cello concertos. Dvořák’s genius was to create musically perfect unions between solo cello and full orchestra; and the Cello Concerto makes a welcome return five years after the memorable 2013 performance.
A virtuoso cello concerto is deserving of a virtuoso cellist; and young, multi award-winning Spaniard, Pablo Ferrández, is ideally-credentialed to make his WASO debut in this performance of Dvořák’s masterwork. Praised for his authenticity and hailed by critics as “one of the top cellists”, Ferrández continues to build his brilliant career through collaborations with internationally-renowned artists and world-leading orchestras.
The second half of the program is given over to Sergei Prokofiev’s ever-popular Symphony No.5. This heroic work was hailed, both in his native Russia and abroad, as a joyous musical celebration of the end of the Second World War. It is significant that the enduring power of this symphony has withstood reflection in the context of Stalinism and that the work continues to evoke the greatness of the human spirit.
Symphony No.5 will also be presented as part of the WASO Morning Symphony Series on Thursday, 12 July at 11.00am.
Young American conductor, Joshua Weilerstein, will also make his WASO debut in this concert. Weilerstein’s clarity of musical expression, unforced manner and deep natural musicianship connects him with orchestras wherever he performs, and he continues to further his aim of communicating with audiences on an emotional level.
In keeping with the new and familiar theme, WASO audiences – whether they be first-timers or long-term devotees – will be enthralled by a program which showcases the best that classical music has to offer.
Pablo Ferrández Plays Dvořák’s Cello Concerto at the Perth Concert Hall on Friday 13th & Saturday 14th July. Tickets and more information available from waso.com.au
Source:- Media release
