Antonín Dvořák | Serenade for Strings in E Major, op. 22
NEC Chamber Orchestra | Donald Palma, Artistic Director

00:00 Moderato
04:45 Minuet: Allegro con moto - Trio
11:44 Scherzo: Vivace
17:20 Larghetto
22:11 Finale: Allegro vivace

The year 1875 was extremely productive for the young Dvořák. Recently married and with a young child, a prize from the Austrian State (Brahms was one of the three jurors) afforded him the freedom to compose without financial worries. During this period he composed the String Quartet No. 2, Symphony No.5, Piano Trio No.1, Piano Quartet No.1 and his opera Vanda. In the midst of this creative outpouring he composed his Serenade for string orchestra in just eleven days in May of 1875.
The Serenade is a charming and joyful work infused with the profound happiness and optimism pervading Dvořák’s life at the time. Each of the movements has a unique character, including a lilting waltz, a playful scherzo, a passionate and lyrical larghetto and concluding with a lively folk dance in the style of those heard throughout the villages of his native Bohemia. Dvořák ties it all together by quoting themes from the previous movements and a return to very opening of the Serenade.

свернуть