Wroclaw State Philharmonic Orchestra 'Witold Lutoslawski' . Daniel Raiskin

In 1885, using her wealthy grocer husband's money, the New York pianist Jeanette Thurber founded the National Conservatory of Music of America. Looking for the perfect director for her 'American' music school, Thurber cast her eyes towards the European music world, where a few patriotic composers drew inspiration from their native language and national history. Probably the most important among them was the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak. Thurber did not fail to notice his success story, from humble butcher's son to the symbol of artistic Bohemia, and in 1891 he was asked to take up the directorship of her conservatory. Dvorak hesitated, accepted, left and triumphed with his Ninth Symphony, 'From the New World'. The title was apt: this work was intended to demonstrate to European (and American!) listeners how a work from the new world might sound. In this concert, Dvorak's magnificent symphony is combined with Brahms' 'Akademische Festouvertüre', in which immature singalongs are given a symphonic tint. The programme also includes Henryk Wieniawski's sparkling Second Violin Concerto.