Back to Classics in March

Pam Hahn and Vanja Gjumar Nikolovski

As the orchestra prepares for our next Classics Series concert on March 17, our maestro has some thoughts about the music on the program.

Q.  The upcoming concert on March 17 showcases music of three very famous composers from different periods of time and three different countries. If you could eat dinner with one of the composers, which would you choose and what would you talk about?

A.  I would like to eat dinner with Rachmaninov and joke with him how in Paganini’s time they did not have famous dumplings typical for Russian cuisine. And, if we have some time left, I might ask him why he chose exactly that theme to work on.

Q.  Our guest soloist for the Rachmaninov work, Rachid Bernal, is coming to play with us from Mexico. How did you find out about Mr. Bernal and why did you invite him to perform with CSO?

A.  I actually have a musician friend - his name is Rafael - who strongly follows successful musicians locally and abroad. When he recommended Rachid few years ago, I have been listening his performances, and decided that he might be a great fit for that piece. I still believe I did not do wrong.

Q.  Which piece on this program is, a. Most Challenging, b. Most Rewarding, and c. Your Favorite?

A.  Overall, most challenging is Rachmaninov because of the speed, rhythmic differences and sudden changes of the character. Most rewarding is Beethoven because everybody plays it and everybody knows it. What kind of orchestra we will be if we don’t play this marvel of music? I love all three pieces, and Verdi brings an amazing memories when I premiered the whole opera years ago back in Macedonia.