Premiering alongside Schnittke's symphony, in both Dresden and New York, is Raskatov's own Nunc dimittis — In memoriam Alfred Schnittke. (Both scores were co-commissioned by the Dresden Philharmonic and Juilliard, along with the Bruckner Orchester Linz in Austria.) The memorial work's text — which is sung by the Hilliard Ensemble and mezzo Alison Tupay — is taken from the traditional Latin liturgical prayer as well as poems by Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky and a Russian Orthodox monk known only as Elder Siluan.
Tonight's concert (which also includes Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante for oboe, bassoon, violin, cello and orchestra) is at 8 p.m. at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. Tickets, available via CenterCharge (1-212-721-6500) and at the Avery Fisher Hall box office, are $20 and $10 (free, at the box office only, for students and seniors).
Russell Davis and the Dresden Philharmonic will record both the Schnittke Symphony and the Raskatov Nunc dimittis in January for the ECM New Series label.