News
How can the human spirit transcend limitations and create timeless masterpieces?
Evergreen Symphony Orchestra seeks to answer this in its upcoming concert, “ESO x Ross Jamie Collins x Alexei Volodin,” on Dec. 26. Through three monumental works, the orchestra will showcase the fusion of virtuoso musicianship and the timeless genius of composers, promising an auditory experience of unique interpretation. Early bird discounts of 50% are available until Nov. 24.
Young Finnish-British conductor Ross Jamie Collins will lead the orchestra. Under the support of the Finnish Cultural Foundation Scholarship, Collins has participated in numerous international masterclasses and collaborated with various orchestras.
As the inaugural Salonen Fellow in the Colburn School’s Negaunee Conducting Program and laureate of the 7th International Jorma Panula Conducting Competition in 2019, Collins has solidified his position in the conducting world. In the 2023/24 season, he served as Dudamel Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor-in-residence of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.
In “ESO x Ross Jamie Collins x Alexei Volodin,” Collins will join forces with Russian piano virtuoso Alexei Volodin to perform one of Rachmaninoff’s most demanding works, the Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor. Renowned for its technical brilliance and profound emotion, this concerto is considered one of the most challenging pieces in the piano repertoire, testing Volodin’s endurance and willpower.
As a Steinway artist and winner of the 2003 Zurich International Geza Anda Competition, Volodin is celebrated for his sensitive touch and precision. Having collaborated with renowned orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, and St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Volodin brings a philosophical aesthetic to complex works. His interpretation of the Third Concerto’s dramatic power is sure to be a highlight of the concert.
Framing this 20th-century piano masterpiece are Haydn’s Symphony No. 103 in E flat major, “The Drumroll,” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, “Eroica.” Composed in London, Haydn’s Symphony No.103 opens with a deep, rolling drumbeat, earning it the nickname “The Drumroll.” Despite its seemingly somber beginning, the symphony progresses into four bright, humorous, and pastoral movements, showcasing Haydn’s vibrant creativity in his later years and the maturity of the classical symphony form.
Beethoven’s “Eroica” is a groundbreaking work in the history of classical music. More complex in conception and structure and longer in duration than its predecessors, the “Eroica” tests the musicians’ endurance and marks a perfect conclusion to the concert.
Join us on Dec. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the National Concert Hall for “ESO x Ross Jamie Collins x Alexei Volodin.” Experience the ultimate fusion of music through a modern lens.