Song of Love

Date/Time
Date(s) - Oct 13, 2019
2:00 pm

Location
Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek

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Piano: Nadia Blank-Koliha
Featuring: San Ramon Valley Chorale

In our opening program of the 2019-2020 season, the Diablo Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director Matilda Hofman, honors the legendary pianist Clara Schumann on her 200th birthday. We will also present works by her husband Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms – three composers whose lives became forever intertwined.

Clara Schumann was one of the most acclaimed concert pianists of the 19th century, and helped define the modern piano recital. She was also a noted composer, and her Piano Concerto forms the centerpiece of this program; we are proud to be joined by our featured soloist Nadia Blank-Koliha. Clara encouraged her husband Robert Schumann to pursue orchestral composition, and his Symphony No. 3, “The Rhenish”, is often considered the pinnacle of his symphonic output. Both Clara and Robert Schumann were pivotal influences on Johannes Brahms; we will present his major choral work Schicksalslied (“Song of Fate”), joined by the San Ramon Valley Chorale, directed by Bruce Koliha.

Johannes Brahms – Schicksalslied (“Song of Fate”)
    — with San Ramon Valley Chorale
Clara Schumann – Piano Concerto
    — with soloist Nadia Blank-Koliha
Robert Schumann – Symphony No. 3 (“Rhenish”)