Seattle Symphony: Dvořák "New World" Symphony

• Esther Yoo, piano
• Alexander Shelley, conductor

This concert is about the music that comes when we long for home. Dvořák's "New World" Symphony captures the energetic elements of music he heard in America, dosed with a heartfelt nostalgia for his homeland. The result is one of the warmest celebrations of looking forwards and back. It's no surprise that a recording of this symphony even made its way onto Apollo XI. Raymond Yiu's Violin Concerto meditates on exile, inspired by the life of composer Ma Sicong, who fled China to build a new life in the U.S. And in his Romanian Folk Dances, Bartók finds inspiration in authentic regional folk music.

Pre-concert talk presented one hour prior to each performance. Free with ticket purchase.

Runs Apr. 10-12.

About Seattle Symphony

Recognized as one of the "most vital American orchestras" (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives, and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 26 Grammy nominations, and two Emmy Awards, and was named Gramophone's 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle.

About Esther Yoo, piano

With "a prodigious clarity of diction" (Scherzo) and "a moving tendresse" (BBC Music Magazine), Esther Yoo has been described as "the model of a violin soloist in the modern age." (The Strad). In 2010, she became the youngest prizewinner of the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition and of the Queen Elisabeth Competition two years later. In 2014 she became a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and in 2018 was selected as one of Classic FM’s Top 30 Artists under 30. In 2020, she was named one of WQXR's "20 For 20" artists to watch.

About Alexander Shelley, conductor

One of the foremost conductors of his generation, Alexander Shelley is ‘a natural communicator, both on and off the podium’ (the Daily Telegraph), regularly performing across six continents with the world’s finest orchestras and soloists. A passionate and articulate advocate for the role of music in society, he has spearheaded multiple award-winning and ground-breaking projects unlocking creativity in the next generation and bringing symphonic music to new audiences.