Virtual Ticket – 2022-2023 Masterworks Concert Series Spring Concert – Evergreen

19th-Century Masterpieces

The second half of ECO’s 2022-2023 Masterworks Concert Series begins with our Spring Concert – featuring masterpieces of the 19th century by Claude Debussy, Clara Schumann, and Georges Bizet. The concert begins with Debussy’s Petite Suite, L. 65 – this delightful piece was initially composed for piano four-hands, and was later arranged by Debussy’s student Henri Busser for orchestra.

Then – a real treat – Steinway Artist and DU professor Stephanie Cheng joins ECO to perform Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 7. Known then as Clara Wieck, prior to her later marriage to Robert Schumann – Clara Wieck-Schumann was an extremely talented concert pianist and was widely known as one of the eminent virtuosos of her time. This concerto was composed beginning in 1833 – at age 13! – and completed in 1835. The premiere of the concerto was in November of that year with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and was conducted by Felix Mendelssohn. ECO is fortunate to have Stephanie Cheng join us to perform this incredible work. Dr. Cheng is the chair of the Keyboard Department at the University of Denver Lamont School of Music, and has performed at numerous prestigious concert halls worldwide.

The second half of the program features Georges Bizet’s Symphony in C. Bizet is most famous for his opera Carmen – and this symphony was not even published or performed during Bizet’s lifetime. It was discovered in the archives of the Paris Conservatoire in 1933, nearly sixty years after Bizet’s death. The work was finally premiered in Basel, Switzerland in the same year by conductor Felix Weingartner, and has been a perennial favorite ever since.

PROGRAM

Claude Debussy

Petite Suite, L. 65

I – En bateau: Andantino

II – Cortège: Moderato

III – Menuet: Moderato

IV: Ballet: Allegro giusto

Clara (Wieck) Schumann

Piano Concerto, Op. 7

Stephanie Cheng – Piano

I – Allegro maestoso

II – Romanze: Andante non troppo con grazia

III – Finale: Allegro non troppo; Allegro molto

Georges Bizet

Symphony in C Major

I – Allegro vivo

II – Andante; Adagio

III – Scherzo: Allegro vivace

IV: Finale: Allegro Vivace