Daniel Lozakovich Plays Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto

Last night's Utah Symphony concert featured the music of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev so you can be sure that I really enjoyed it (I love the Russian composers).  The first piece, however, was not composed by a Russian but by a Brazilian!  The orchestra began with the U.S. premiere of Oji - Cheganca e impeto by Paulo Costa Lima.  The composer wanted to explore Afro-Brazilian folk traditions and this piece is meant to represent a trans-Atlantic journey from Africa to Brazil.  It features many different percussion instruments, including some rather unusual ones, and I was particularly struck by how well these instruments, along with the strings, mimic the sound of rolling waves in a storm.  I kept seeing a ship being tossed about in a thunder storm.  I could also really hear the relief that comes from reaching a destination safely as interpreted by the diminishing sound of a wind machine.  I thought it was really cool (you are pretty much guaranteed something cool when you see six percussionists on the stage).  Next, the orchestra performed the Violin Concerto by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and they were joined by Daniel Lozakovich on violin.  In my opinion, Tchaikovsky's music is incredibly emotional (which is why I love it) and the Violin Concerto is especially so.  The theme played by the soloist, which is repeated often throughout the three movements, is absolutely beautiful and I particularly enjoyed it when it was repeated by the flute.  Lazakovich was required to play faster and faster in the first movement (the violinist for whom this piece was composed declared it unplayable) and it was thrilling to watch, to say the least!  My favorite movement was the second because it is slower and just a bit melancholy with a beautiful introduction by the woodwinds.  The third movement includes variations of Russian folk music before it returns to the passionate main theme in a triumphant conclusion!  Lazakovich was absolutely brilliant and, in response to the standing ovation from the large crowd at Abravanel Hall, he played a dramatic rendition of Sonata No. 5, Danse Rustique, by Eugene Ysaye as an encore.  After the intermission, the orchestra concluded with selections from the ballet Cinderella by Sergei Prokofiev.  I saw Ballet West's production of Romeo and Juliet, which also features the music of Prokofiev, just last weekend so I was really excited for this!  I have also seen this ballet performed by Ballet West so I had many images in my head as I listened to the orchestra.  I especially enjoyed Cinderella Goes to the Ball, because it includes incredibly romantic themes played by the woodwinds, strings, and horns, and Midnight, because the percussion mimics the dramatic chiming of the clock (I could still see the giant clock used in Ballet West's production) as Cinderella leaves the ball.  I enjoyed every minute of this concert and would definitely recommend getting a ticket for tonight's performance (go here) of the same program.