Rebirth & Revolution: Shostakovich 5

Alexander Kerr, violin
Geoffrey Robson, conductor

PROGRAM

Sergei Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2

Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Violin Concerto No. 2/ Sergei Prokofiev
b. Sontsivka, Ukraine / April 23, 1891 – March 5, 1953

Written in 1935, just before his return to Soviet Russia in 1936, Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No.2  comes at a crossroads in the composer’s life and style. The first movement is rife with unease, while the second is sensual and romantic. The finale bursts forth with wild and exhilarating energy. Though Prokofiev aimed for a new simplicity during this period, the concerto is anything but plain. Its vivid orchestra colors and striking contrasts shine through in every movement. From the bold exchanges between soloist and orchestra to the dizzying race to the final note, this work is both refined and electrifying. 

Meanwhile, in 1935…

• College football fans saw the debut of the Orange Bowl, Sun Bowl, and Sugar Bowl–all played for the very first time.
• Amelia Earhart made aviation history by becoming the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.
• In Springdale, Tyson Foods was founded, eventually growing into one of the world’s largest meat processors. 
• In Hot Springs, future Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Mitchell was born!

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Symphony No. 5 / Dmitri Shostakovich
b. Saint Petersburg, Russia / September 25, 1906 - August 9, 1975

Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 is a showstopping orchestral feat, packed with emotional intensity and dramatic contrast. Considered one of his greatest feats, the symphony was, in fact, a carefully crafted response to severe political pressure. The first movement simmers with tension. A sharp contrast follows in the second movement: a short and almost mocking waltz. But the heart of the symphony lies in the third movement, stretching over 13 minutes of profound grief and haunting beauty. The controversial finale bursts in with thunderous drums and leads to a triumphant conclusion. 

Meanwhile, in 1937…

• The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, a stunning archaeological feat, was opened to the public after five years of construction
• The Appalachian Trail, stretching 2,000 miles over 14 states, was formally completed. 
• In North Little Rock, Camp Pike is renamed Camp Robinson for the late U.S. senator Joseph Taylor Robinson.
• According to the American Red Cross, the Great Flood of 1937 hit 12 states, including Arkansas, shattering all previous disaster records–excluding World War I.