After a 2017 sold-out performance that drew ovations and calls for encores, the virtuosic National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine makes a highly anticipated return to the Moss Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall.
The orchestra will perform Dmytro Bortniansky’s “Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat major”; Johannes Brahms’ “Symphony no. 3 in F major, op. 90”; and Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Piano Concerto no. 2,” featuring piano soloist Volodymyr Vynnytsky.
Premiering in 1883, Brahms’ third symphony is a classic work, and one of the composer’s most familiar and beloved creations. Opening with winds, the piece has four movements with impressive thematic unity — each movement ends quietly but is filled with powerful moments of restrained tension.
Led by artistic director and chief conductor Volodymyr Sirenko, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is considered one of the finest symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe. Performing world premieres of works by Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Evgen Stankovych, and other famed composers, the orchestra has gained international recognition over a remarkably short period of time.
After an appearance in Moscow, Shostakovich commented, “This orchestra has as distinguished a group of performers as one would be likely to find anywhere. The ensemble of the orchestra is of the highest level. In addition, the various soloists and instrumental groups within the orchestra play exceptionally and complement each other beautifully—as would the greatest of the world’s symphony orchestras.”
The orchestra has toured around the world and released more than 100 recordings of both Ukrainian and international repertoires, garnering two Grammy nominations.
This performance is supported in part by a gift from Carl J. Pfeiffer and Linda J. Pfeiffer.
Before the performance, chief conductor Sirenko will participate in a question-and-answer session with audience members. Beginning at 6 p.m. in the Moss Arts Center Cube, the event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The talk is presented in partnership with the Lifelong Learning Institute at Virginia Tech
Tickets for the performance are $40-$75 for the general public and $10 for Virginia Tech students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center’s box office, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.
