MW1 Saturday, September 20, 2008
8:00PM Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Dmitri Shostakovich
Waltz 2 from Jazz Suite No. 2
                  
Alexander Arutiunian
Trumpet Concerto
     Vladislav Lavrik,trumpet

Sergei Rachmaninoff
Symphony No. 2 in E minor

Our opening night revels in the rich and colorful Russian symphonic tradition and features rising star Vladislav Lavrik from the Russian National Orchestra on the trumpet.  We begin with an unlikely waltz by Shostakovich - a small gem from Shostakovich's background as a film composer and silent film pianist.  Mr. Lavrik then joins the orchestra in a virtuoso showpiece for the trumpet - the Arutiunian concerto.  Our evening culminates in the Romantic Second Symphony of Rachmaninoff.  As a true heir to the symphonic tradition of Brahms and Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff was accused of living in a bygone era by writing bold fanfares against a tapestry of rich and warm melodies that seem to spin effortlessly from his imagination.  And aren’t we lucky he remained true to his voice – today we have one of the most beloved symphonies of all time, and we are proud to showcase the orchestra on opening night in full Russian splendor.