Expressive Virtuosity

For the opening concert of the season, Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso will present three beloved composers: Verdi, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky.  The program begins with Verdi’s Overture to Nabucco, where we hear for the first time glimpses of “Va pensiero,” considered by many Italians their second national anthem. 

The next piece will feature the eminent cellist Zuill Bailey who will perform Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante for Cello & Orchestra.  “The sound is rich, like dark chocolate . . . his voice is distinctive– strong and direct.  Bailey reaches from the soul of his instrument to our own” (Voices- Jason Victor Serinus).

The program concludes with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 whose opening movement is described as “one of the most towering symphonic structures in our whole literature” (Hans Keller).  Echoes of Beethoven’s 5th can be heard in the opening fanfare.

A talk by art historian and music aficionado Ian Fraser will precede the concert, highlighting personal stories of the music and composers.