Park ICM Orchestra 2024 Valentine’s Week Concert - Tim Hankewich

The Orchestra of the International Center for Music will present its annual Valentine’s concert on Friday, February 9th, 7:30 PM, at the gorgeous Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel at Park University. The program will be under the direction of Kansas City favorite, guest conductor Timothy Hankewich, music director of Orchestra Iowa, who returns for his third appearance with the ICM Orchestra. Maestro Hankewich has selected music by Bach, Boccherini, Debussy, Schubert, and Vivaldi, and the featured work will be Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, K. 467.

The concert begins with the second movement of Bach’s Third Orchestral Suite, a piece that has become known as Bach’s Air on the G String. A slow and dreamy melody hovering over a gentle walking bass line creates a mood of quiet contemplation and serves as introduction to all the music that follows on the program. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 is one of the composer’s most popular works for both audiences and players alike. Many listeners may be most familiar with the Andante second movement, as this gained popular fame for its use in the 1967 film “Elvira Madigan,” and a photo from the film even graced the cover of the LP used for the recording. This performance will feature soloist Michael Davidman from the prestigious ICM Piano Studio under the tutelage of ICM Artistic Director, Founder and Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch.

The second half of the program brings together a number of shorter works, well known in their original form or as transcriptions. Debussy’s Claire de Lune for piano, Boccherini’s Minuet from his String Quintet Op.11 No.5, and Schubert’s Serenade for solo voice all illustrate the many moods of Valentine’s Day.

With a punch and cookie reception immediately following the concert, the ICM Orchestra’s annual Valentine’s Concert has proven to be one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year, so please plan to attend this wonderful mid-winter event