Olga Kern returns to “A Local Touch: Music with a Virginia Connection” this Wednesday with her performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4, recorded live at the Virginia Arts Festival. And Kern is not the only artist with Virginia ties featured this week — you'll also hear performances by the Zemlinsky Quartet, cellist Nina Kotova, and others who will be visiting Hampton Roads soon.
After hearing Rachmaninoff’s first three piano concertos in previous episodes, this week we spotlight his Piano Concerto No. 4 — a lesser-known gem that stands out for its bold chromaticism and distinct jazz influences, reflecting the composer’s fascination with American music. This particular performance, with Kern and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, was a highlight of the festival and a truly unforgettable experience for the audience.
Looking ahead, the Zemlinsky Quartet will be visiting Hampton Roads in a few weeks as part of the Virginia Arts Festival. Raymond Jones has chosen their moving performance of Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 8, a piece that, despite being written in a major key, is filled with melancholy. It reflects the sorrow Dvořák felt following the loss of his second daughter — a deeply emotional work well worth hearing.
Staying in the realm of strings, we’ll also hear Edgar Meyer’s Violin Concerto, composed specifically for Hilary Hahn, the celebrated violinist who was born in Virginia. This two-movement concerto showcases Meyer’s stylistic versatility, blending elements of jazz, Baroque, and classical traditions. Hahn’s interpretation, alongside the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, is a masterclass in clarity and sensitivity.
Another violinist on Raymond Jones’s radar is Tessa Lark, performing a truly special piece: Piazzolla’s “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires,” in a version arranged by Russian composer Leonid Desyatnikov. This imaginative adaptation weaves in quotations from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” creating a vibrant dialogue between tango and European Baroque. Lark recorded this version in 2021 with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by JoAnn Falletta.
Switching from violin to cello, we’ll hear Nina Kotova, who will also visit our area in June for a series of chamber concerts with Olga Kern and other acclaimed soloists. She performs Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14" with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Constantine Orbelian. This hauntingly beautiful piece shows a more introspective side of Rachmaninoff’s music.
And since this evening is all about strings, we’ll also feature Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat,” performed by The Knights with violinist Lara St. John and violist Scott St. John as soloists, conducted by Eric Jacobsen. It's a delightful and elegant piece that showcases the interplay between two solo instruments and the orchestra.
Join us this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO FM 90.3 — or listen online — and enjoy these world-class performances by artists and ensembles with meaningful connections to Virginia.
