Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Mozart, Leshnoff, and Mendelssohn with Demarre McGill, flute

One of the most sought-after flutists of his generation, Demarre McGill, Principal Flute of the Seattle Symphony, brings his rich, expressive tone to Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 2, followed by the highly anticipated World Premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s Flute Concerto No. 2—a powerful new work written to showcase McGill’s expressive depth and virtuosic command.

The evening concludes with the radiant Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 “Italian,” inspired by his travels through Italy and brimming with energy and exuberant rhythms. As the composer wrote, “the whole country had such a festive air that I felt as if I were a young prince making his entry… this will be the happiest piece I have ever written.”

“From his first notes, the effect was astonishing. It was the tone he drew from his instrument which caught the ear first, and continued to throughout the performance. Totally clean, liquid, mellifluous—i.e., honeyed—in the best sense of the word, rounded and beautiful, it beckoned you in.” (The Sunbreak)