Rouvali & Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances
About This Event
Conductor Santtu‑Matias Rouvali leads a program built around Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, with Greek violinist and conductor Leonidas Kavakos among the soloists at David Geffen Hall. Rouvali’s dynamic approach and Kavakos’s established solo career frame Rachmaninoff’s dense Romantic orchestral writing.
About Symphonic Dances(symphony)
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s *Symphonic Dances* (1940) is a late orchestral triptych that distills his characteristic sweep into three concentrated panels—restless rhythm, nocturnal lyricism, and a final movement shadowed by recalled themes and quoted chant. Written after he left Russia, it often reads as a backward glance, with memory and unease held in balance. At David Geffen Hall, Santtu‑Matias Rouvali leads the New York Philharmonic in a program that places the work in the city’s ongoing tradition of orchestral modernity. One can hear it as Rachmaninoff’s most unsentimental self-portrait.
About the Artists
Santtu-Matias Rouvali
Santtu-Matias Rouvali is a Finnish conductor known for his dynamic conducting style and has worked with various orchestras internationally.
Leonidas Kavakos
Leonidas Kavakos is a Greek violinist and conductor known for his performances in classical music, particularly as a soloist and with orchestras.
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Immerse yourself in the evocative melodies of Sergei Rachmaninoff, a luminary in the world of Romantic classical music. Revered for his intricate compositions and masterful piano performances, Rachmaninoff captivates audiences with a unique blend of lyrical expressiveness and complex textures.