NYPhilharmonic Performs Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade

The 1st open rehearsal was a spectacular start to the season featuring Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.  Rimsky-Korsakov's (b Russia 1844-1908) majestic symphony 1st premiered in 1888.  It's a favorite composition of mine.  It has a powerful orchestration that blends beautiful with the violin solo, performed magnificiently by Frank Huang (b China 1978.)  The combative motifs referencing the power struggle between the Sultan & Scheherazade evoke a magical feeling of flying carpets, swirling sand dunes & oceanic waves.   The buoyant orchestration lifts seamlessly to reveal the violin beckoning, uplifted by the honeyed sounds of the harp, flutes & piccolo.  Condcutor Alan Gilbert lead his orchestra in the last of his opening rehearsals and it was a resounding commencement to his final season with the NY Philharmonic.