Reinecke & Rachmaninoff

Reinecke’s Flute Concerto in D Major features William C. Byrd Competition winner Danielle Kim. This lyrical and virtuosic display of the flute was the last piece Reinecke wrote before he passed away. The balance of melody and technical fluency makes this concerto a delight for listeners-much more than just a hurried showcase of technique. The movements progress from leisurely and dreamy, to melancholy and lamenting, finally arriving in an energetic dash to the end of the piece.

Symphony No. 2 was written while Rachmaninoff and his family lived in Dresden, Germany to escape political tumult in Russia-the moodiness and turmoil of the composer’s personal life can be felt in the lush, impassioned movements of this symphony. The piece was not well-received by critics at the time, making Rachmaninoff doubt his talent. However, portions of this piece made their way into modern culture, including 2014 film Birdman, and it is now one of Rachmaninoff’s most well-known works