It's not quite spring yet here in the Great White North (we seem to be in the grip of a winter that doesn't want to end), but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy some spring-like music. Earlier in the month, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto streamed a concert by the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, with the first item on the program being the symphonic version of Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring. The other two pieces were Franz Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, and Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 7 in D Minor.
I'm not familiar with the latter two pieces, but Appalachian Spring is one of my favourite pieces of classical music. Although I prefer the chamber orchestra version, which I've been able to see performed live a couple of times, the symphonic version does have its merits. I saw Copland conduct it in Hamilton in the 1970s along with his other well-known ballet scores, Billy the Kid and Rodeo.
It doesn't seem possible to embed the video of the concert, so you will have to be content with this link. Program notes are here.
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