Upcoming WQXR Broadcasts from Carnegie Hall - Spring 2016

Now that we're in the second half of the season, it might be a good idea to take a look at some of the upcoming concerts at Carnegie Hall that will be broadcast on WQXR, New York City's classical music station.

• On Thursday, January 14th, the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform Mahler's arrangement for string orchestra of Beethoven's Quartet in F minor, Op. 95, the "Serioso," as well as his Piano Concerto No. 4 with Jan Lisiecki as soloist.  The program will also feature works by Johann Strauss, Jr. and H.K. Gruber. 

• On Sunday, January 31st, Jonas Kaufman will be in recital.  This is one of the most highly anticipated events of the season.  I had previously heard this incredible tenor perform in the title role of Massenet's Werther at the Met but wasn't able to get good seats when tickets to the recital went on sale to Carnegie Hall subscribers in August.

• On Thursday, February 18th, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, with Iván Fischer conducting, will perform Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony.  This is a top-notch ensemble, known for its authoritative interpretations of Bartók, and Fischer is one of the best conductors now active.  On the same bill, Marc-André Hamelin will perform Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1.

• On Wednesday, February 24th, violinist Christian Tetzlaff (along with Tanja Tezlaff, cello, and Lars Vogt, piano) will perform a program of piano trios by Schumann, Dvořák and Brahms.

• Only two nights later, on Friday, February 26th, the Vienna Philharmonic, with Valery Gergiev conducting, will perform a program of works by Wagner, Debussy, and Mussorgsky.  I'll actually be at the hall the following evening when the same ensemble again performs works by Wagner and Mussorgsky.  This will give me an excellent opportunity to immerse myself in the music of this magnificent orchestra.

• On Wednesday, April 20th, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of its chief conductor, Mariss Jansons, will perform only one work, Shostakovich's monumental Symphony No. 7, the "Leningrad."

• Finally, on Saturday, May 14th, Yuja Wang will be in recital playing works by Bach, Schoenberg and Chopin.  I had attended last season's recital when this fine pianist performed a program of all Russian works.  I'm very interested in hearing how she handles other areas of the repertoire.