Las Vegas Philharmonic to Perform Tchaikovsky Concert, 5/21-22

The Las Vegas Philharmonic performs Cabrera Conducts Tchaikovksy on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 22, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center . The performance will open with D.J. Sparr's Dreams of the Old Believers followed by Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme, Opus 33 featuring guest cellist, Oliver Herbert, and will conclude with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique." Music Director Donato Cabrera will present the Classical Conversation at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday in Reynolds Hall for patrons interested in learning more about the music and history behind the works being performed that weekend.

The program begins with D.J. Sparr's Dreams of the Old Believers, a work based on the story of the Lykov family that retreated into the Siberian taiga in 1936 in response to the Bolshevik determination to purge Russia of Christianity, including the Old Believers. Detached from civilization, the Lykovs main form of entertainment was recounting their dreams to one another, hence the inspiration for Sparr's work. The piece incorporates Russian orchestral literature and two offstage ensembles to create the sense of recounted dreams. The music was written for the California Symphony and was premiered by their orchestra in 2014.

Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme written for cello and orchestra was premiered in 1877 by German cellist and Moscow Conservatory cello professor, Wilhelm Fitzenhagen. The published work is different from what Tchaikovsky originally composed due to substantial revisions made by Fitzenhagen. Tchaikovsky's original score was eventually released; however, Fitzenhagen's version of Tchaikovsky's work is most typically performed by orchestras today. Tchaikovsky tips his hat to Mozart and the mid-eighteenth century Rococo style to create this charming and elegant piece.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic's performance of Variations on a Rococo Theme will feature 18-year old cellist, Oliver Herbert. Originally from San Francisco, Herbert performed as principal cellist for the San Francisco Youth Symphony, National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America and Colburn School Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. He recently won second place in the Stulberg International String Competition and first place in the Irving M. Klein International String Competition. Herbert has participated in the prestigious Yellow Barn Music Festival and is currently a student at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The evening concludes with Tchaikovsky's last Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique" or "Passionate" in the Russian context, which he premiered nine days before his untimely death in 1893. The music starts with a slow and ominous bassoon solo eventually picking up tempo, moving into a waltz and riveting third movement. The fourth and final movement returns to the haunting opening melody, ending the piece on a somber note.

Ticket Prices
Ticket prices for the May 21st and May 22nd Cabrera Conducts Tchaikovsky concert are $26, $46, $66 and $96 and can be purchased through The Smith Center Box Office, phone 702.749.2000 or online at lvphil.org. In addition, patrons can purchase the Las Vegas Philharmonic's Flex Passport concert package. Priced at $300 (20% discount off retail), the Flex Passport gives patrons the flexibility to redeem six seats for the concert(s) of their choice during the current season.

Bus Service

The Las Vegas Philharmonic offers shuttle buses for the evening performances to The Smith Center from Summerlin (Starbright Theatre, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd) and Henderson (Anthem Center at Independence Center 2460 Hampton Road.) Bus passes must be purchased in advance and can be obtained when purchasing concert tickets, or by calling The Smith Center Patron Services at 702.749.2000. Each bus pass costs $20 roundtrip per concert.

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