Rachmaninov's Rhapsody & Tchaikovsky 4

Name: Rachmaninov's Rhapsody & Tchaikovsky 4
Start: 2025-11-23T15:00:00+01:00
Location: Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

Schedule

Sun, 23 Nov, 2025 at 03:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels, Belgium | Brussels, BU

𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼 & 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 ⟶ https://www.nationalorchestra.be/en/whats-on/calendar/roderick-cox-joyce-yang
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲
George Walker Sinfonia No. 4, "Strands"
Sergei Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬
Belgian National Orchestra
Roderick Cox (conductor)
Joyce Yang (piano)
Composed in 1996, the Sinfonia No. 4, "Strands" by George Walker, the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, weaves together different "strands" of music, blending rhythms, harmonies, and contrasts to create a striking sonic texture.
Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony is perhaps the most explosive of his works. Opening with a bold rhythmic motif, reminiscent of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, it grabs the listener from the very first notes before launching into the longest first movement of Tchaikovsky’s symphonic output. From the lyrical second movement to the buoyant third and the electrifying finale, this symphony remains one of the most virtuosic and captivating in the modern repertoire.
Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini completes the evening. More of a theme and variations than a true rhapsody, and more of a concerto than a symphony, it places the piano at center stage, transforming the famous Paganini theme into 24 dazzling variations of remarkable contrast and ingenuity.