Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Dvořák and Bruckner

Smetana’s exuberant overture to his 1866 comic opera The Bartered Bride weaves dance-like Czech folk tunes with rollicking strings and characterful woodwinds, hurtling toward a triumphant finale.

Dvořák wrote his Violin Concerto for the superstar virtuoso Joseph Joachim, who expressed his disapproval over elements of the composition, and then ultimately refused to perform it. But Joachim’s loss is Gomyo’s gain – the work’s lush, romantic Adagio, and its animated, folk-inspired dance forms have cemented its popularity with violinists and audiences alike.

In contrast to the fast-paced works above, Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony takes its time, in no rush to show its full character too soon. Instead, this broad work starts with solo horn against a backdrop of simmering strings, building throughout until the demure opening theme metamorphoses into a bursting, glorious finale.