National Philharmonic: Sarah Chang Plays Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 3:00 PM Music Center at Strathmore

Piotr Gajewski, conductor
Sarah Chang, violin

One can hear the breaking of the waves, see the rich colors and, above all, experience the overwhelming vastness of a cavern in Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture. Written in 1830, Mendelssohn's tone painting was inspired by the stunning beauty of Fingal's Cave, found on one of the Hebrides Islands off the west coast of Scotland.

Recognized as one of the world's great violinists, the brilliant Sarah Chang performs one of the most popular concertos of all time, Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. Its final movement pays proper homage to the virtuoso tradition of the concerto, displaying buoyant themes at breakneck speed. "To listen to Sarah Chang is to be bathed in the sheer beauty of her sound" (Gramophone Magazine).

Brahms composed his ardent and vital Symphony No. 3, his shortest symphony, when he was a 50-year-old bachelor, pronouncing himself to be "frei aber froh" ("free but happy"). He gave the symphony a motto based on this declaration (F — A–Flat — F) and used it throughout the symphony, thus revealing himself in a novel, yet personal and intimate way.

This concert will run approximately 95 minutes including intermission.

ALL Kids, ALL Free, ALL the Time
Young people age 7-17 attend all National Philharmonic concerts at the Music Center at Strathmore free of charge, making it easy for families to go to concerts together and for young adults to attend a live classical music performance with friends. KIDS FREE tickets may be obtained IN PERSON at the Strathmore Ticket Office or BY PHONE at (301) 581-5100.

PLEASE NOTE: KIDS FREE tickets cannot be ordered online. Refunds will not be issued for tickets purchased online for children ages 7-17.