Opening Night with Midori

Concert Details

Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor
Midori, violin

• SIBELIUS: Concerto for Violin in D Minor, op. 47
• SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, op. 47

Run Time: Approx. 120 minutes including 15 minute intermission

Guest Artists

NOTES FROM THE MAESTRO

“This season kicks off with Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, a staple among the top ten violin concertos of all time, alongside Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn. This concerto, Sibelius’ only one, was famously too difficult for the soloist at its world premiere. Its romantic essence and unconventional structure make it a captivating work.

I’m quite excited to work with Midori for the first time. A child prodigy who rose to prominence at just 11 under Leonard Bernstein, she has enjoyed an illustrious international career for over 40 years.

In the second half, we’ll perform Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, another iconic Fifth Symphony that stands alongside Beethoven’s and Mahler’s. Composed in the aftermath of World War II, each movement serves as a personal diary entry, reflecting a range of emotions from deep despair to jubilant exuberance. It’s truly Shostakovich’s most performed work and a quintessential classic.”