Beethoven, Lalo – With Joshua Bell and Michael Stern

The intimate connection between music and movement comes to the fore in this concert of Romantic works. First on the program is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, an œuvre whose dramatic force hinges on contrasts between obsessive rhythms and rustic drones, summoning images of Dionysian carnival dancing. Indeed, Wagner pronounced the work to be “the apotheosis of the dance,” a description that binds it closely with the music that follows: Édouard Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole. The composer’s most popular work, the Symphonie is a de facto violin concerto threaded through with dance motifs of Spanish-inspired music. In this concert, the rhythmic heart of Symphonie espagnole is made particularly tangible through the Brooklyn-based ensemble Dance Heginbotham’s world-premiere choreography.

An unusual and colorful program for artists and audiences alike, Joshua Bell conducts the NSO in Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, then returns to his familiar role as violin soloist for Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, with Kansas City Symphony Music Director Michael Stern on the podium.

More information on the event: http://www.kennedy-center.org

This event is part of a year-long celebration of U,S. President John F. Kennedy's Centennial. Explore Joshua Bell's creative work with students and technology and other activities reflecting JFK's ideal of Service. More information: http://www.kennedy-center.org/jfkc/service/stories/joshua-bell

Discover Joshua Bell's album For the Love of Brahms:

The album is available: here and here.

Joshua Bell appears courtesy of SONY CLASSICAL

Photo: Joshua Bell © Lisa Marie Mazzucco

Lola was commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the national symphony orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach, Music director, as part of the 2016–2017 season.

Lola was developed as part of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s extended Life dance development program made possible in part by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. LMCC.net.