Linda Wang is among the premier violinists of her generation, consistently praised for her artistry, warm singing tone and charismatic performances. A native of New York City, Ms. Wang has studied at The Juilliard School, the Colburn School and the University of Southern California. She is returning to Grand Junction after a memorable performance of Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D in 2005.

Unlike Rossini, who would often wait until the very last minute to write an overture for one of his operas, Bedrich Smetana actually wrote the overture for his opera The Bartered Bride before he wrote anything else for it. While the libretto was still being worked out, Smetana composed the overture in piano score during autumn 1863, two and a half years before the premiere of the first version of the opera.

With an extensive timbral palette and the opportunity for virtuosic display, Barber made full use of his Violin Concerto’s possibilities, from exquisitely colored, tender lyricism to splashy pyrotechnics.

Tchaikovsky composed Symphony No. 6 in 1893. After a successful premiere, however, he was not satisfied with Program Symphony (No. 6) on the title page. “Patetichesky,” which in Russian means enthusiastic or passionate was suggested by a friend. Tchaikovsky was said to have been thrilled with the name but he had his doubts about putting it on the piece. A week later, Tchaikovsky was dead. As for his publisher Jurgenson, he could not resist the opportunity to publish No. 6, in elegant Lingua Franca, as Symphonie pathétique. The nickname has stuck ever since.

Want to learn more? Click here to read the program notes from this concert.