Rouvali & Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances
About This Event
Conductor Santtu‑Matias Rouvali leads a program at David Geffen Hall centered on Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. Violinist and conductor Leonidas Kavakos joins the lineup; his soloist background and Rouvali’s dynamic conducting inform a reading of Rachmaninoff’s late‑Romantic score, emphasizing its rhythmic drive and orchestral color.
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.