A GUIDE INTO THE CLASSICAL MUSIC :
SUZHOU SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
2026.03.21（SAT）19 : 30
Jinji Lake Concert Hall SCAC
Conductor Giovanni Guzzo
Piano George Lin
BEETHOVEN
The Creatures of Prometheus Overture, Op. 32
TCHAIKOVSKY
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23
BRAHMS
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73
NOTICE TO AUDIENCE
1. DURATION Approximately 99 minutes with a 15-min intermission.
2. SUGGESTED AGE 8 and above.
3. Minimum height for children :1.3m.
Tonight's concert will take you through masterpieces by three titans of classical music. Together, these pieces from different periods paint a vivid picture of the musical world, ranging from heroic grandeur to romantic lyricism to pastoral poetry. The evening opens with Beethoven's Prometheus Overture. This piece was originally written as a ballet, and it was inspired by the fire-stealing hero from Greek mythology. Aggressive woodwinds provide glimpses of optimism, racing strings portray bright flames, and bold brass themes represents the courageous awakening. Next, we have Tchaikovsky's beloved Piano Concerto No. 1. At first, we will hear the amazing conversation sparked by the piano and orchestra. Its magnificence is highlighted by those famous opening chords, which are followed by a tune from the Ukrainian traditional ballad. In the second movement, the flute and piano blend like autumn whispers, and the rondo finale bursts into Cossack dance rhythms, resulting in joyful climaxes that demonstrate Tchaikovsky's blending of Western symphonic beauty and Slavic influence. After intermission, Brahms's Symphony No. 2 in D Major greets us with its warmth. Written during the composer's Austrian lakeside retreat, this Pastoral like piece unfolds as a lyrical ode to nature. Cellos sing a shepherd-like theme in the first movement, and it is answered by an oboe melody echoing Alpine folk tunes. The second movement murmurs with subtle depth that is flowing like a stream. The third movement bursts with folk-dance vitality, and the last movement has two themes undergo glowing variations, culminating in a blaze of brass and strings. Brahms has created create sunlight, forests, and meadows for us through his careful use of symphonic languages.
