At the Cusp of the Modern

In the Yale Symphony Orchestra’s final concert of the season, we pay homage to two great 20th century composers, both of whom took the music and ideals of the Romantic era into the Modern. Richard Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche,” the playful tune of a prankster, and his beautiful “Vier Letzte Lieder” with soprano Lauren McQuistin lead to Igor Stravinsky’s “Petrushka” (1947). Stravinsky’s thrilling work uses strident brass, rolling drums, and famed arpeggios to tell the tale of an unhappy puppet, and we’re sure it will not disappoint.