On Sunday 8 May the UQ School of Music presented Symphony No. 9 in E minor, op. 95 (“From the New World”) (1893) by Antonín Dvořák as part of The University of Queensland's Vice-Chancellor's Concert Series. This work was performed by the UQ Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Dane Lam.
Antonin Dvořák's Ninth Symphony is a work drawn from the composer's understanding of his new American home. Since its rapturous American premiere on 16 December 1893 in Carnegie Hall, it has been one of the most frequently performed and recognisable pieces of Western art music ever written. If success can be measured by having a tune leap zoonotically from the biome of classical music permanently into the realm of popular culture, then this might be the most successful symphony ever written, so ubiquitous has the main theme of its second movement (aka “Goin’ home”) become. And the story of its composition as a generous demonstration to America of “how to do nationalism” in music has entered the realm of myth.
Read the full program notes by Dr Simon Perry:
[ Ссылка ]
