Rachmaninoff & Beethoven

Enrique Diemecke, conductor
Flint Symphony Chorus
Nada Radakovich and Jeffrey Walker, directors
Jhane Perdue, soprano
Tiffany Thorpe, mezzo soprano
Tom Cilluffo, tenor
Frank Pitts, bass

Sergei Rachmaninoff Vocalize from Fourteen Songs, op.34, No. 14
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony #9, op.125, D minor

This bold program of heavy-hitters is the perfect way to wrap up the 2022-23 FSO season. Vocalize from Fourteen Songs features soprano soloist Jhane Perdue. Rachmaninoff wrote a beautiful, melancholy melody reflecting the state of the time as World War I raged on. The soprano solo does not have any words or text, only singing on a syllable, which showcases the dynamic and expressive quality of the human voice.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, one of the composer’s greatest works, is hailed as a milestone achievement in music history. Beethoven was one of the first composers to include a chorus and soloists in a symphonic format—this piece requires a large orchestra, with the FSO’s performance including 76 musicians for the performance. Though it is diverse and varied, the symphony is unified and coherent in form—meandering through beautiful melodies and exhilarating flourishes to arrive at the grand finale: Ode to Joy featuring a full choir and orchestra.