The Portland Youth Philharmonic will offer three works that vary greatly from each other, giving concertgoers a wide range of music to enjoy. The program features “Symphony No. 4” by Johannes Brahms; the “Spring Festival Overture” by Li Huanzhi; and the “Violin Concerto in D Major” by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The violin soloist for the Korngold is Nate Strothkamp, who won the 2019 PYP Concerto Competition.
Donald Francis Tovey, a noted musicologist, described Brahms' work as:
“one of the greatest orchestral works since Beethoven.”
Brahms himself conducted the first performance, in Meiningen Germany, in 1885.
The “Spring Festival Overture” by Li Huanzhi, a Chinese composer, illustrates the way residents of the Shanbei region of China welcome the New Year. The Korngold “Violin Concerto” will contain themes that some listeners will find familiar. Korngold is probably best known for his work in Hollywood, where he wrote the music for classic films such as “Captain Blood,” “The Sea Hawk,” and “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” all of which starred Errol Flynn. Some of his film work found its way into his other compositions.
The free concert is scheduled for March 2, from 7.30 pm until 9.30 pm, at Skyview High School on Northwest 139th Street in Vancouver. The Portland Youth Philharmonic's Musical Director, David Hattner, will be on the podium. Flyer printing can provide handouts for evenings like this.