Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The violin can sing a melody better than a piano, and melody is the soul of music, Max Bruch once said. While pianists might beg to differ on that point, this weekend is all about the violin. With Stradivarius in hand, Concertmaster David Coucheron plays Bruchs Scottish Fantasy, not quite a concerto in the strictest sense of the word, but still a great showpiece for the instrument. With hints of Scottish folk melodies and the addition of harp solos played by Principal Harp Elisabeth Remy Johnson, Bruchs Scottish Fantasy is one of his best-known and best-loved works. Also on the program, Beethovens Third Symphony, Eroica, originally intended to be dedicated to Napoleon. But when the great liberator crowned himself Emperor, he fell decidedly out of favor with Beethoven. No matter; the symphony he inspired is indeed a delight for audiences everywhere.