From Russia with Love
$18 ($13 youth/seniors)
Dmitri Shostakovich — Festive Overture in A major, Op. 96
Modest Mussorgsky / Maurice Ravel — Pictures at an Exhibition
Vasily Agapkin — Farewell of Slavianka ("Farewell to a Slavic Woman")
Boris Kozhevnikov — Symphony No. 3 “Slavyanskaya”
You needn’t be of Russian ancestry to be moved by the stirring power of classic Russian music literature. Come feel the emotional energy of this heroic program as the Washington Wind Symphony kicks off our concert season with “From Russia with Love.”
Dr. Ed Powell will guide you on a journey through the works of a carefully selected set of celebrated Russian masters:
Prelude in E-Flat Minor
Written by Dmitri Shostakovich and transcribed for wind band by H. Robert Reynolds, this piece depicts the dramatic nature of the composer’s life. It is often referred to as the “Zoya Prelude,” in reference to a 1944 Soviet film titled Zoya about a girl who was tragically captured behind enemy lines and killed.
Festive Overture
One of the most often performed transcriptions for band, Shostakovich composed this exhilarating piece in 1954. The opening fanfares of the overture were used during the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Symphony No. 3
Boris Kozhevikov’s music didn’t become popular in the U.S. until after the end of the Cold War. In between the aggressive first and fourth movements, you’ll hear a sprinkling of melodic folk tunes from the composer’s native city of Novgorod.
Pictures at an Exhibition
Written by Modest Mussorgsky and orchestrated by Maurice Ravel, this epic, landmark suite is adored by music lovers worldwide. Sit back and allow us to paint our aural interpretation of Mussorgsky’s 10 memorable works of art.
A Slavic Farewell
Originally titled “Farewell to a Slavic Woman,” composer Vasilij Agapkin’s march is a long-time favorite of the Russian people. It was often played when soldiers left their homes to go fight in World War I.
Please join us for this romantic afternoon of music by Russian composers!