Sir William's Virgins

Evening Music | May 6, 2010
When Sir William Walton was asked to provide music for the 1940 ballet "The Wise Virgins," he took the opportunity to stitch together a series of Bach Cantatas in grand form. Ballet aside, the piece delightfully retains the spirit of Bach's music — albeit with a full modern orchestra (we'll hear it tonight from the Concert Arts Orchestra under Robert Irving).

Yo-Yo Ma pays tribute to 18th century cello master Luigi Boccherini with the Concerto No. 3 in D; Ton Koopman conducts the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. We'll also spend time with two pieces for strings: members of the Vienna Philharmonic perform Beethoven's String Quartet No. 16; after that we'll hear Stravinsky's Concerto in D with members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Finally, the Wind section gets its due with Eric Ewazen's "Roaring Fork" Wind Quintet from the Borealis Winds.

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