Respighi & Moussa with Denève & Lamsma

In this Italian-themed program, Stéphane Denève and Simone Lamsma make a passionate case for theViolin Concerto, “Adrano,”by Samy Moussa, composer-in-residence of the Saturday Matinee.

Seismograph
Whereas in many violin concertos the soloist stands as a hero against an orchestral backdrop, Moussa seems to view the violin soloist in*Adrano*as a seismograph: a sensitive sensor that registers the turmoil beneath the surface of the orchestra. The title refers to the volcanic town of the same name at the foot of Mount Etna; the orchestra thus behaves like a dormant source of energy that surges upward in waves and eruptions. The soloist navigates between lyrical phrases and tense, rhythmic passages, constantly balancing between merging with and resisting the mass. Thus,Adranobecomes a solo concerto in which tension lies not only in virtuosity, but in the constant recalibration of the relationship between soloist Simone Lamsma and the orchestra.

Italian Atmosphere
With two movements from Respighi’sRoman Trilogy, we remain immersed in an Italian, urban atmosphere. These symphonic poems—resounding odes to Rome—brought the composer worldwide fame. The program opens with*Liguria*, a musical depiction of a walk taken by the Swedish composer Andrea Tarrodi through five villages along the Ligurian coast.