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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

Pietari Inkinen, conductor

Karen Gomyo, violin

SIBELIUS Finlandia

SIBELIUS Violin Concerto

STRAVINSKY Pétrouchka

Finnish-born Pietari Inkinen makes his conducting debut with the Symphony and brings two Finnish national treasures from the pen of Sibelius—the tone poem Finlandia and the masterful Violin Concerto. Performed by the young violinist Karen Gomyo, it’s been called the concerto of “fire and ice,” vividly evoking the frozen north of Finland and the fiery emotions and patriotism of its people. From his amazing trio of ballets, we have Stravinsky’s telling of the tale of Pétrouchka, the mischievous puppet come-to-life of Russian folklore. Brilliantly colorful and filled with amazing solos for our principal players, it’s a prime example of the breathtaking genius of the young Stravinsky at his best.