Yuriy Bekker

Yuriy Bekker appears with Tucson Symphony Orchestra in a dual role, conducting the program and also stepping out as violin soloist. Listeners will hear him shape a string-focused evening built around Baroque counterpoint and Russian lyricism, then perform as one of the two solo violin voices in Bach's Double Concerto.

This program leans on strings throughout, which suits a conductor who is also a violinist: expect close attention to how the bows move together and how phrases breathe. Respighi's suite recreates old dance tunes with a soft, antique glow, using the string orchestra almost like a lute ensemble. In the Bach Double Concerto, two violins trade a rising melodic idea back and forth, sometimes overlapping in close harmony, sometimes chasing each other in quick imitation, with Bekker taking one of the solo lines himself. The Reid piece is a contemporary work new to most listeners, likely offering a more atmospheric, wide-open sound. Tchaikovsky's Serenade closes the evening with a warm, singing opening melody and a finale built from a Russian folk dance tune, giving the strings a chance to swell into full, rich chords after the leaner Baroque textures earlier in the program.