Sublime Sibelius

Naples Philharmonic Masterworks
Tania Miller, conductor
Manuel Barrueco, guitar
Beethoven — Leonore Overture No. 3
Rodrigo — Concierto de Aranjuez
Sibelius — Symphony No. 1
Canadian conductor Tania Miller and Cuban classical guitar icon Manuel Barrueco join the Naples Philharmonic’s second Masterworks performance in March which features Sibelius, Beethoven and a daring guitar concerto from Rodrigo.
Sibelius’ masterful Symphony No. 1 shows a composer coming to grips with the nationalist movement of his home country, Finland, as it tried to wrest away control from Tsarist Russia. The composer pulled not only from the classical canon, but the folk songs of his homeland to create a tapestry of sound that encapsulated the Nordic environment. Starting with a daring clarinet solo, the symphony represents an opportunity for the Naples Philharmonic’s woodwind section to showcase its virtuosity.
Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez might be familiar to longtime Naples Philharmonic patrons; Erich Kunzel conducted the orchestra for a recording in 1997. Now, Manuel Barrueco revisits this thrilling concerto for orchestra and guitar.
The concert begins with Beethoven’s “Leonore” Overture No. 3, a piece he wrote and rewrote throughout his career. Conceived as the opening for his opera Fidelio, the third version is too powerful to serve merely as an introduction. Instead it shines as a short stand-alone piece for the orchestra.
 
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