Russian Elegance, American Lyricism: Rachmaninoff and Rorem

Delyana Lazarova, conductor
Andrea Overturf, English horn

GLINKA: Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla
ROREM: English Horn Concerto
RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27

Two Russian masterpieces frame one of America’s most lyrical concertos in a program overflowing with melody, featuring San Diego Symphony’s own Andrea Overturf on English horn.

The concert opens with Glinka’s exuberant Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla. Often called the “father of Russian music,” Glinka infused his fairy tale opera with fireworks of orchestral brilliance and the spirit of adventure – capturing the joy of a wedding celebration just before the story’s drama unfolds.

Ned Rorem’s Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra offers a tender, introspective contrast. Written in the 1990s while the composer was recovering from illness, the work highlights the instrument’s radiant tone through delicate orchestral textures. Its five movements unfold like a series of poetic reflections, shaped by Rorem’s lyrical gift and shimmering sensitivity to sound.

Rachmaninoff’s magnificent Symphony No. 2, composed in 1906 during his years in Germany, concludes the concert. A masterpiece of Romantic passion and architectural unity, it merges sweeping melodies, heartfelt emotion, and deep nostalgia for his Russian homeland. Expansive yet cohesive, the symphony glows with Rachmaninoff’s signature balance of orchestral power and expressive tenderness.