Part of conductor's job is to be a glorified traffic cop, to make sure the music doesn't come apart at the seams. But even more important than that, it's to be a leader and a unifier, to convey an artistic vision to the orchestra. If the first part of the job description seems better-suited to younger people, it's the second part that has historically swung the baton in favor of the senior generation. Krzysztof Urbanski is young conductor who seems to have both halves in good order. Today, he leads the Indianapolis Symphony in Bedrich Smetana's suite, "Ma Vlast."
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
Bedrich Smetana: The Bear, from Ten Czech Dances
The Czech Nonet
Jacques Ibert: Tunis, from Escales (Ports of Call)
The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Joel Smirnoff, conductor
The Church of St. John the Divine, Houston
Isaac Albeniz: Evocacion from Iberia Suite, B. 47, Book 1
Jeffrey Kahane, piano
Music@Menlo, Atherton, California
Howard Hanson: Interlochen Theme
The World Youth Symphony Orchestra, Jung-Ho Pak, conductor
Interlochen Arts Camp, Interlochen, Michigan
Bedrich Smetana: Excerpts from Ma Vlast (My Homeland)
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Krzysztof Urbanski, conductor
Hour 2
Camille Saint-Saens: Une Nuit a Lisbonne (A Night in Lisbon), Op. 63
The French Symphony Orchestra, Laurent Petitgirard, conductor
Zoltan Kodaly: Dances of Marosszek
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, New York
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Rondo in A Minor, K..511
Oxana Yablonskaya, piano
Southeastern Piano Festival, Columbia, South Carolina
Camille Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A , Op. 33
Sol Gabetta, cello, the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Adam Fischer, conductor
Victoria Hall, Geneva, Switzerland
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