Steven Isserlis Featured on Orchestra of St. Luke's Program, 6/1

Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) will conclude its long-running Orchestra Series with Nicholas McGegan conducting the orchestra for the first time at Carnegie Hall. A leading figure in the movement for historically informed performance, McGegan will conduct a program that explores the most influential friendship of the Classical era-between Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The celebrated cellist Steven Isserlis will join the orchestra to perform Haydn's virtuosic Cello Concerto No. 2.

OSL will open the program with Mozart's Symphony No. 29 in A Major, which harkens back to older symphonic traditions and reveals some of the influence that Haydn had on his younger contemporary. In turn, Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major maintains company with the many great concertos written by Mozart. Although Haydn is better known for his symphonies and string quartets, his cello concerto stands as one of the most renowned works for the instrument. Each movement of the work presents opportunities for great virtuosic display by cellist Steven Isserlis, whose playing has garnered wide acclaim for its precision and passion.

Mozart's Ballet Music from Idomeneo explores a different musical form-that of the ballet tailpiece that often followed operas of his day. In 1780, Mozart was commissioned to compose an opera for the orchestra in Munich. He was so taken with the orchestra that he also wrote this graceful, wide-ranging ballet music to accompany the opera. Haydn's Symphony No. 99 in E-flat Major will conclude the program on a festive note. The symphony bears the influence of Mozart with rich writing for woodwinds; still, it is distinctly Haydn's-with tender melodies, remarkable contrapuntal skill, and jovial wit.

This program was originally planned for November 1, 2012, and was rescheduled due to Hurricane Sandy.

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