BOULDER, Colo. Sept. 10, 2024 — Boulder Symphony will open its 2024-2025 season with a classical masterworks series on Sept. 28 and 29 at Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St.
The concerts will feature pieces from Antonín Dvořák, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Florence Price.
Boulder Symphony will open with “Slavonic Dance” No. 1 by Dvořák, a piece that captures the spirited rhythms and folk melodies of the composer’s native Bohemia. Complementing this piece is the Colorado premiere of Price’s Symphony No. 1 in E minor. This groundbreaking symphony blends classical traditions with African American spirituals and folk music, offering a rich and unique voice that has earned Price her place as a pioneering composer in American music.
Worth noting is the 2009 discovery of a treasure trove of Price’s works at her summer home in St. Anne, Illinois, where scores were strewn on the floor after an apparent robbery. The home’s new owners contacted the University of Arkansas and donated the scores to Price’s archive.
An important step in the long march for equality is to showcase voices that symphonic music has neglected and failed to represent in the past by performing, recording, teaching, and sharing the life and work of Florence Price.
Concluding the program is Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by the 2024 gold medal recipient of the International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival (IKOF) Competition full concerto division, Artem Kuznetsov. This iconic work is known for its powerful opening chords and lyrical themes, showcasing the pianist’s virtuosity and emotional depth.
Devin Patrick Hughes, conductor and music director of the Boulder Symphony, said:
“IKOF attracts some of the most talented young pianists from all over the world. I am so excited for Artem to make his Boulder Symphony debut and bring this Tchaikovsky concerto to life.”
Kuznetsov is an award-winning concert pianist and an enthusiastic chamber musician hailed for his artistry, virtuosity, lyricism, and electrifying energy. He is also passionate about sharing his experience and coaching the future generations of classical musicians. He enjoys educating his students privately as well as serving as a Teaching Assistant at Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin.
In anticipation of this concert and his connection to this concerto, Kuznetsov commented:
“I first heard Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 when I was very young, listening to Van Cliburn’s legendary performance with Kirill Kondrashin on a vinyl recording from the first Tchaikovsky Competition. That interpretation has held a special place in my heart ever since. It’s so meaningful to me that I even have a vinyl of that concerto signed by Van Cliburn himself. While the concerto is often praised for its power and grandeur, I also find it deeply lyrical, with a wounded pain that resonates especially in the first movement. Every time I perform it, I feel a profound mix of joy, sorrow, and a deep connection with the piece. I’m thrilled to bring this extraordinary music to life once again with the Boulder Symphony.”
Boulder Symphony is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the highest quality classical music to the Boulder area. This season-opening concert is sure to be a highlight of the season and a must-see for anyone who loves great music.
Tickets for the concert are available now and can be purchased online here. Boulder Symphony is offering VIP tickets for the evening of Sept. 28, which includes seating in the first three rows, a pre-concert lecture in the performance hall, and a drink ticket.