Program Highlight

Andreas Delfs conducts Tchaikovsky’s “Pathetique” 9/25 @8pm

Classical 91.5 WXXO-FM

Published April 7, 2023 at 11:33 AM EDT

RPO Music Director conducts Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony

“We can feel our hearts pumping and it's really intense! It sticks with you even after you've stopped playing.” - Joshua Newburger, RPO principal viola

Andreas Delfs, conductor
Juliana Athayde, violin
Jeanelle Thompson, violin
Joshua Newburger, viola
Ahrim Kim, cello

HAYDN Symphony No. 44 in E Minor
SCHULHOFF Concerto for String Quartet and Wind Orchestra
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, “Pathétique”

Erwin Schulhoff's Concerto for String Quartet and Wind Orchestra featured members of a small ensemble including two new RPO players.

Music Director Andreas Delfs leads the RPO in a program featuring soloists from the orchestra. Haydn’s Symphony No. 44 is one of a few written in a minor key. The composer requested the slow movement to be played at his funeral, earning the piece the nickname of “Trauer,” or mourning. Erwin Schulhoff used jazz in innovative ways throughout his Concerto for String Quartet and Wind Orchestra. It embodies his belief that “absolute art is revolution.” Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 ends the program. The piece was titled as the “passionate” symphony by the composer, then translated from Russian into French as “Pathétique."

Hear more from two new RPO members, violinist Jeanelle Thompson and violist Joshua Newburger, in conversation with WXXI’s Julia Figueras.

WXXI Classical presents the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2022-2023 season on Mondays at 8 p.m. on Classical 91.5/FM-HD 91.5-1. Brenda Tremblay hosts.

This concert will be rebroadcast on September 25, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.