The Performance


Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra presents Schubert & Tchaikovsky. Audiences will experience live, alongside works by Tchaikovsky, Bruch, and Dvořák. Music Director James Kahane leads this program featuring Canadian cellist Rachel Mercer.

To begin, Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished” opens the concert with a haunting and soaring lyricism. Its mysterious atmosphere lingers, proving that what is left unsaid can be just as powerful as what is spoken. Next, Rachel Mercer brings warmth and expressive depth to Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei. Rooted in an ancient Hebrew melody, the work unfolds with quiet intensity. Rich orchestral colours frame the cello’s voice with tenderness and luminous lyricism.

From there, Mercer returns as soloist for Antonín Dvořák’s Silent Woods, creating a moment of calm and reflection within the program. The concert concludes with the radiant energy of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence for strings. Brimming with lush melodies and virtuosic interplay, this vibrant work captures the composer’s passionate voice and his affection for Italy’s spirit.

Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony concert offers a richly expressive evening of orchestral music, perfect for lovers of Romantic repertoire.

Featuring

Concert Program

  • Franz Schubert, Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished”  
  • Antonín Dvořák, Silent Woods
  • Max Bruch, Kol Nidrei 
  • Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Souvenir de Florence (Strings)