Scheherazade

Enjoy four magnificent works of music by three composers from near the turn of the 20th century, yet each one unique in their own right: the French Lili Boulanger and Camille Saint-Saëns and the Russian Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Zuill Bailey, one of the top cellists in the world, will join the CSO as guest soloist. Also featured will be Yuriy Bekker, who in addition to other roles, has been Concertmaster of the CSO since 2007.

Scheherazade, the symphonic suite inspired by The Thousand and One Nights, is a masterful interplay between the villainous Sultan and the heroine Scheherazade. The former is expressed in the low brass and woodwinds, while the latter is passionately represented by solo violin. Rimsky-Korsakov, seeking a narrative for his work and knowing the true value of good storytelling, delivered a stunning musical mix of exotic, valiant, seafaring, celebratory, and fantasy.

William Eddins, Music Director Emeritus of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and a frequent guest conductor of major orchestras worldwide, returns to conduct the Charleston Symphony.

MORE ON THE MUSIC & ARTISTS:

• In addition to being a celebrated conductor, William Eddins is an accomplished pianist and chamber musician. 
• Composer Camille Saint-Saëns was gifted in a wide variety of the arts as a pianist, organist, writer and music historian.
• Yuriy Bekker has led the CSO as Artistic Director since 2021 and concurrently leads as Concertmaster (since 2007) and Principal Pops Conductor (since 2016). He performs on the 1638 Franz Degen Andrea Guarneri violin.
• Born into a musically talented family, Lili Boulanger, at the age of 19, was the first female winner of the Prix de Rome — a prestigious composition scholarship award.
• D’un Matin de Printemps (“Of a Spring Morning”) is the happier counterpart to Boulanger’s D’un Soir triste (“Of a Sad Evening”), both were written near the very end of her short life.

PROGRAM

Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)
D’un Matin de Printemps (Of a Spring Morning)

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
La muse et le poète, Op. 132                              

INTERMISSION

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
Scheherazade, Op. 35        

ARTISTS

William Eddins, Conductor
Zuill Bailey, Cello
Yuriy Bekker, Violin