Join the ISO, world-renowned conductor Gemma New and violinist Geneva Lewis for a program that celebrates, illuminates and sets score to love and friendship. Each piece inspired by relationships, this weekend’s concerts will tell stories of human connections, as well as delving into the complex forces that break us apart.
The concert’s program begins with Alissa Firsova’s Bride of the Wind, inspired by Oskar Kokoschka’s tempestuous affair with Alma Mahler following the death of her husband, Gustav. Tchaikovsky’s singular Violin Concerto—one of the most popular of all time—was a collaborative labor of love between the composer and his student, violinist Iosif Kotek. Finally, in Elgar’s Enigma Variations, the composer depicts his closest friends and loved ones through each of the piece’s 14 variations.
Alissa Firsova: Bride of the Wind
First composed as a piano duet in 2013, Firsova arranged Bride of the Wind for orchestra in 2017. The title of the piece references a painting by Oskar Kokoschka, which depicts his tempestuous affair with pianist and composer Alma Mahler, who was then the widow of composer Gustav Mahler. The tone of the piece, matching the vivid energy of the artwork, expresses equal parts passion and anguish. The painting is also referred to as “The Tempest,” signaling the polarizing nature of the lovers’ relationship.
The Tempest, Oskar Kokoschka
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto—a masterpiece of beauty, technical rigor and expressive emotion—stands today as one of his most celebrated works. Written in 1878 following the collapse of his marriage to Antonia Miliukova, this concerto was inspired by and written for violinist Iosif Kotek with whom Tchaikovsky was having a romantic affair.
Given Tchaikovsky’s upper-class standing, he was able to evade prosecution for the crime of homosexuality in Russia, but for many years following his lifetime, Russian officials suppressed the truth regarding Tchaikovsky’s sexuality. Although many of Tchaikovsky’s personal letters have been published, those concerning his intimate relationships have remained private due to state censorship, and the story of some of his most meaningful relationships remains hidden except through his music.
Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations
One of Elgar’s most famous works, the work begins with a theme followed by fourteen variations, each with a cryptic subtitle referring to its dedication to a friend or family member. The most famous variation is Variation IX (subtitled as Nimrod), dedicated to Elgar’s close friend August Jaeger, and its melody soars majestically to a triumphant climax.
Gemma New and Geneva Lewis bring their unique artistry to pair with the ISO’s world-class musicians in a program to remember. New leads the ISO at Hilbert Circle Theater following tenures with the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Currently serving as Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, New has inspired audiences and artists alike across her home country while maintaining guest appearances with orchestras across the globe.
Lewis joins the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for this program from Kronberg Academy, as the recipient of a 2022 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant, and Grand Prize winner of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild Competition. Lewis’ exceptional artistry and brilliant tone will partner with New to bring to life the music of Firsova, Tchaikovsky and Elgar in Love and Friendship this weekend in Indianapolis.
Get tickets for October 18 – 19 here.