Rimsky‐Korsakov's Sheherazade and Timothy Chooi plays Bruch

About the Event

With his seductive tone and compelling stage presence, violin prodigy Timothy Chooi proves that Bruch's First Violin Concerto is a masterpiece, thanks in part to the imaginative melodies in the violin solo. The Essener Philharmoniker combine that with Rimsky‐Korsakov's beloved symphonic poem Sheherazade, based on the Arabian fairy tales of One Thousand and One Nights.

Rimsky‐Korsakov's Sheherazade
Perhaps it is the most famous tale in the world: the Sultan Shahriar, deceived by his wife, sleeps with a new maiden every night and has her killed the next morning, until the clever Sheherazade tells him a story so exciting that he wants to know how it continues. So she keeps telling him stories, 1001 nights long. At least as well known is Rimsky‐Korsakov's richly orchestrated composition Sheherazade, an enchanting symphonic poem in which Arab fairy tales come to life.

Timothy Chooi plays Bruch
'Play my other concertos. They are just as good, if not better,' sighed Max Bruch, because it frustrated him that violinists kept choosing his favorite First Violin Concerto. Apparently he himself did not realize that this concerto is simply irresistibly attractive, thanks in part to its imaginative, lilting melodies and exuberant final movement. And surely otherwise violin stars like Timothy Chooi would not perform it so eagerly and often? With his seductive tone and compelling stage presence, Chooi once again demonstrates that Bruch's First Violin Concerto is a masterpiece.