The 200th anniversary of the birth of French composer Édouard Lalo will be celebrated on Saturday, April 15th, by the Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra (OSPA). The “Lalo 200” concert starts at 5 pm, in the Symphonic Room of the OSPA House, and also includes works by the German Carl Maria von Weber and the Czech Antonín Dvořák.
For the occasion, Brazilian conductor and clarinetist François Benda returns to command the Symphony Orchestra after nine years, and Osesp cellist Rodrigo Andrade is the show’s soloist. Before the concert, at 4 pm, Max Uriarte will give the Concert Notes in the Recital Room, commenting on the presentation’s repertoire. The public can watch the concert in person, and in live transmission, at YouTube.
Born on January 27, 1823, French artist Édouard Lalo (1823 – 1892) began his musical studies as a violinist and began composing in the late 1840s. His style, based on German romanticism and influenced by Spanish folk themes, stands out for the transparency in the orchestration and strength of its melodic themes.
An example is the “Concerto for Cello in D Minor”, written in 1876 and premiered the following year, in Paris. The work was a great success with the public and critics. To perform it, the Orchestra receives the soloist Rodrigo Andrade. The musician was a cellist for OSPA in the 2000s, performed as a soloist for the most important orchestras in Brazil and is currently a cellist for the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra.
The program highlights distinct phases of European romanticism. The opening of the opera “Der Freischütz”, by Carl Maria von Weber (1786 – 1826), considered one of the first great romantic composers, begins the presentation. “’Der Freischütz’ is considered the first German-style opera. This overture, the very first time it was performed, was repeated several times due to its great success.
It is one of the most famous overtures in the history of music”, comments guest conductor François Benda, who conducted OSPA for the last time in 2014 and returns to Porto Alegre, after nine years, to lead this show.
The “Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, ‘New World’”, by Antonín Dvořák (1841 – 1904), closes the concert. François highlights the composer’s innovative references in this work, such as folk themes from the Czech Republic, black and Indian rhythms that he absorbed in his three years as director of the National Conservatory of Music of America, in New York.
The conductor adds that “this symphony is considered the height of romanticism, and Dvořák is naturally a composer with phenomenal melodies and harmonies”.
OSPA House Series Concert – Lalo 200
- SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2023
- Concert start: 5pm. Lecture Concert Notes: at 4 pm, with Max Uriarte.
- Where: OSPA House (CAFF – Av. Borges de Medeiros, 1501, Porto Alegre, RS).
- Tickets: from R$10 to R$50. Discounts: solidarity ticket (with a donation of 1kg of food), Banrisul customers, Amigo OSPA, AAMACRS members, members of the Clube do Assinante RBS, seniors, blood donors, people with disabilities and companion, student, youth up to 15 years old and Youth ID.
- Box office: via Sympla or at Casa da OSPA on the day of the concert, from 12h to 17h.
- Parking: free, on site.
