Ex-Romantico

PEI Symphony Orchestra’s (PEISO) concert Ex-Romantico, on March 2 at Confederation Centre of the Arts, promises an afternoon of elegance, passion, and musical grandeur. The orchestra will showcase a special premiere and welcome guest soloist James Sommerville, former principal horn of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Ex-Romantico is a program designed to explore music that amplifies and exaggerates human emotions, capturing the essence of Romanticism while reaching beyond its traditional boundaries. The concert highlights the debut performance of Kati Agócs’ “Horn Concerto,” co-commissioned by the PEISO and composed for Sommerville. With its soaring melodies and rich emotional depth, this concerto blends innovation with tradition.

“I inherited Canadian composer Kati Agócs’ ‘Horn Concerto,’ and I’m honoured to be able to premiere it on PEI,” says Jaelem Bhate, PEISO Music Director. “Kati wrote this work with James Sommerville in mind, and together, they create something truly extraordinary; they are both kind of a big deal!”

The concert will open with Fauré’s poignant “Pavane,” a piece that pulls at the heartstrings. Following this, the PEI premiere of Agócs’ “Horn Concerto” will take centre stage, with Sommerville’s virtuosity on full display. The afternoon will conclude with Mendelssohn’s fiery “Symphony No. 3,” often referred to as the “Scottish Symphony,” inspired by the composer’s travels to the rugged highlands of Scotland.

All concert attendees are invited to enjoy a free, pre-concert talk beginning at 1:30 pm at Confederation Centre. The concert will begin at 2:30 pm in the Sobey Family Theatre. Tickets and subscriptions are available at confederationcentre.com or 902-566-1267. 

peisymphony.com