Continuing its special partnerships with preeminent musicians and adding to its reputation, the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra is providing another “innovative artistic and educational experience” when guest artist Amit Peled joins the FSO for an evening of “Tchaikovsky & Beethoven,” said Jonathan Kerr, Executive Director, FSO.

Peled is a renowned cellist returning to the FSO to continue his relationships with the FSO and audiences who asked the FSO to bring him back to perform, noted Kerr. Born in Israel, Peled is a Grammy Award nominated cellist who performs around the world. When he performs, he will be playing a cello once used by and handed to him by Pablo Casals.

The FSO evening of “Tchaikovsky & Beethoven” will include Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” written for cello and orchestra in a style inspired by and as a homage to Mozart. The 20-minute Tchaikovsky piece consists of eight variations on a theme. It will spotlight Peled’s skills as cellist. Following the Tchaikovsky will be composer Max Bruch’s sumptuous ”Kol Nidrei” written for cello and orchestra.

After intermission, the FSO will present Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.

Asked about “Variations,” Peled said “the music has a theme that any child can whistle.” He went on to say “if Spotify had existed when Tchaikovsky ‘Variations’ were new, they would have been very popular on Spotify.”

Peled called “Variations” a very communicative piece with feelings; “full of fireworks that the audience can relate to … festive, lush and vibrant.”

For Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei,” Peled indicated it a musical piece that a listener need not be Jewish to have it enter one’s soul.

Peled will be in Center for the Arts (CFA) foyer during intermission to meet with audience members.

Allison Bailey, FSO Associate Concertmaster and Orchestra Director at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology described her position as the FSO Associate Concertmaster; “to provide leadership along with the Concertmaster.”

A symphony concertmaster is like an athletic team’s player-coach, but for the FSO, that means striking up the symphony, greeting the conductor, then playing as violinist. Bailey will serve as the Concertmaster at the “Tchaikovsky & Beethoven” concert.

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra presents “Tchaikovsky & Beethoven” Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018 at 8 p.m. Visit www.cfa.gmu.edu or call: 888-945-2468.