Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

When I was a little girl in Canada my family lived next door to an older couple from Russia.  They were unable to have children of their own so they regarded me as a sort of surrogate granddaughter.  My parents warned me not to bother them but I loved going over to their house as often as I could because it was dark, exotic, and filled with the most magical objects, including an exquisite samovar that had pride of place in their living room.  They spoke Russian to me and served me pryanik, a type of Russian cookie, when they had tea in the afternoon.  I loved them dearly!  Because of this early influence, I have always been fascinated with all things Russian (I've been to Russia twice).  I love Russian history and Russian literature but I especially love Russian music because it is so passionate.  Last night's Utah Symphony concert featured three Russian composers, including my favorite Rachmaninoff, and I loved it so much!  In fact, my heart was almost bursting with emotion throughout the entire evening!  The orchestra began with Night on Bald Mountain, a moody and atmospheric tone poem composed by Modest Mussorgsky and arranged by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov.  This piece is especially appropriate right before Halloween because it depicts a Witches' Sabbath and I always picture a group of witches dancing around a fire whenever I hear it.  I especially like the dramatic theme played by the brass throughout.  Next came the amazing Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff.  I have always loved this piece, including all of the Themes and Variations, because it is equally fiery and passionate, grand and stirring, wild and tempestuous, and unbearably romantic.  If I had to pick a favorite, like everyone else, I would pick Variation 18 because it is so beautiful and plaintive (perhaps you have heard it because it is featured in many movies, including Somewhere in Time).   Guest soloist Lukas Vondracek played it brilliantly!  I really enjoyed watching his fingers fly up and down the keyboard and his performance garnered a spontaneous standing ovation (and an encore) immediately after its conclusion.  After the intermission, the concert concluded with Symphony No. 5 by Sergei Prokofiev.  This piece was written during the height of World War II as a tribute to the triumph of the human spirit and I particularly loved the final movement because it is so energetic.  This concert was absolutely sublime and I think you should get a ticket (go here) to tonight's performance of the same program.