Talks on Western Classical Music

Stuart-Liff Collection Library: Thursday, 16th July at 4.00 pm

Dvorak: New World Symphony

The second talk of the series by Dr. Cavas Bilimoria this month will focus on Antonin Dvoraks New World Symphony. In 1892, having secured leave from the Prague Conservatoire, Dvorak went to America as Director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York, a forerunner of what is today the Juilliard School. The name From the New World which the composer himself gave his symphony clearly points to the basic idea of this work. The contact with the folk music of another land, namely the African American Spirituals and the folk music of the Native Americans had a stimulating effect on Dvoraks imagination. As he himself said that in these African American melodies, he discovered all that is needed for a great and noble school of music.

Stuart-Liff Collection Library: Thursday, 6th August at 4.00 pm

Beethoven: Violin Concerto

In this series of talks on Western classical music, Dr. Cavas Bilimoria takes listeners through musical concepts, the lives of composers and their famous works, interspersed with examples from recorded music. The sessions this month will offer deeper insight into the music being featured in the SOI Autumn 2026 Season.

In 1794, Beethoven met a precocious 13-year-old violinist Franz Clement and had no hesitation in selecting him for premiering his violin concerto on 23rd December 1806. However, this noblest of all violin concertos was not immediately a great success due to several reasons-insufficient preparation time, a long three-minute wait for the soloist to enter, a brusque ending and a lack of overt virtuosit among others. It was not until the 13-year-old Joseph Joachim played the concerto in London in 1844, with no less than Felix Mendelssohn conducting the orchestra, that the concerto became popular.

Stuart-Liff Collection Library: Thursday, 13th August at 4.00 pm

Mendelssohn: "Italian" Symphony

Dr. Cavas Bilimorias talks this month are specially designed to familiarise attendees with the music being performed at the SOI Autumn 2026 season. The second talk in the series will focus on Mendelssohns "Italian" Symphony. Mendelssohn began composing this symphony, the most popular among all his five symphonies for full orchestra, in 1830 during a long holiday in Italy. He tried to capture in musical form, the sights, smells and emotions inspired by his Italian adventure. It is among the most brilliant music he ever composed. And yet, not satisfied with it, he did not allow it to be published in his lifetime. He completely revised the second, third and fourth movements but died at the age of 38 before he could revise the first movement. When it was published in 1851, four years after his death, it immediately became popular and has remained one of the best loved symphonies in the entire symphonic repertoire.

An NCPA Presentation

Entry free on a first come, first served basis.