Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA Presents Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” at Skyview Concert Hall

To open this program, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA welcomes Spanish harpist Cristina Montes Mateo. She is featured in a challenging 20th-century piece, the “Concerto Capriccio” by the Catalan master Xavier Montsalvagte. After intermission, the orchestra presents Rimsky-Korsakov’s masterpiece, “Scheherazade.”

Writing for harp and orchestra is a challenge, requiring both knowledge of the technical aspects of the instrument, and a mastery of orchestral writing that will allow the solo part to balance with orchestra. Montsalvagte apparently considered his 1975 “Concerto Capriccio” to be one of his best works for this very reason, remarking: “perhaps it was the challenge behind the composition; I wanted to write for the harp in such a manner that it would unite with a heterogeneous orchestra. It made for interesting, and difficult, work!”

Rimsky-Korsakov, the great Russian nationalist and leading teacher at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, first conceived of a work on stories from the “Thousand and One Nights” in the winter of 1887. He finished “Scheherazade” in 1888, during his summer break from teaching duties. Rimsky-Korsakov was an acknowledged master of scoring music for orchestra (his “Principles of Orchestration” is still one of the standard works on the subject)—for him, “...orchestration is part of the very soul of the work.” “Scheherazade” may well be his masterwork in this regard. Few other works make such effective use of orchestral color.

The 2024-25 Symphonic Series season is presented by United Grain Corporation.

Date: Saturday, April 12, at 7 p.m. // Sunday, April 13, at 3 p.m.

PROGRAM: Montsalvatge Concerto for Harp and Orchestra* Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade

*Cristina Montes Mateo, harpist

PRE-CONCERT TALK: An hour before each performance, 6 PM on Saturday and 2 PM on Sunday, all ticket holders will enjoy an educational pre-concert talk from a VSO Musician or VSO’s Music Director and Conductor Salvador Brotons. Don’t miss this special opportunity to learn all about the history of the music that will follow!

All ticket holders will receive a secure email link in order to access the live stream performances.

Livestream link: https://mediacampus.com/live/vso/

Artists: The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA Salvador Brotons, Music Director and Conductor Cristina Montes Mateo, harpist