Belgian National Orchestra - Marsalis

American jazz legend Wynton Marsalis is not only a virtuoso trumpeter, a celebrated bandleader and composer, but also a fervent advocate for American culture. He is also the first musician to win multiple Grammy Awards in both the jazz and classical music categories. About a decade ago, Wynton Marsalis composed a concerto for violin in four movements, in collaboration with and at the request of Nicola Benedetti, the world-renowned Scottish violinist. The first movement is imbued with dreamy sweetness, but the dream quickly turns into a nightmare and ends with a march that harks back to ancient times. The ensuing scherzo is particularly fierce and reminiscent of Prokofiev. The third part, intensely sorrowful, echoes with blues accents. It is followed by a finale that plunges the listener into the heart of America, overflowing with optimistic vital energy. The title of Marsalis' Fourth Symphony, ‘The Jungle’, refers to New York City, the most organic, cosmopolitan and densely populated metropolis in the world. In this hour-long opus, the musician blends jazz, blues, big band, and classical music to evoke in six movements a portrait reflecting the cultural ferment and frenetic pace of human activity in New York City. Under the direction of David Robertson, the Belgian National Orchestra is joined by the musicians from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis's New York big band.