Event
Zachary Plays Barber
Naples Philharmonic Masterworks
Naples Philharmonic
Hans Graf, conductor
Zachary DePue, violin
Bartók — Hungarian Sketches
Barber — Violin Concerto
Bartók — Concerto for Orchestra
The final Masterworks program of the 2024-25 season promises breathtaking thrills, stunning displays of virtuosity and moments of unbridled joy as guest conductor Hans Graf leads Concertmaster Zachary DePue and the Naples Philharmonic for a performance of Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto and two late-career works by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók.
The evening begins with Bartók’s Hungarian Sketches, a collection of five short piano pieces written between 1908 and 1911 while Bartók collected folk songs in western Hungary. To appeal to a broader audience and earn a living, Bartók eventually orchestrated these pieces in the 1930s. The resulting work, featuring boisterous and mournful moods, spiking chords and hiccupping segments, is considered innovative for its use of folk techniques.
Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, however, is universally praised for its thematic dominance, plaintive folkish intermezzo and a seemingly spontaneous and uplifting give-and-take led by the brass section. This masterpiece showcases Bartók’s ability to transform folk elements into a rich orchestration, simultaneously providing depth and accessibility.
Acting as the program’s centerpiece, Barber’s Violin Concerto gives Concertmaster Zachary DePue a platform to put his virtuosity on full display. While Barber’s first two movements feature gorgeous melodies, the finale, with its burst of triplets, offers roller-coaster levels of excitement as it accelerates and speeds into its twists and turns, seemingly teetering on the edge before pulling listeners back and allowing them — and Zachary — to catch their breath.
Prelude at 6:30pm
Join the conductor before the performance for an insightful 30-minute prelude discussion about the program.
Music and Museum
All Masterworks tickets include same-day admission to The Baker Museum. Museum hours on day of performance: 10am-7:30pm. In addition, the doors to Hayes Hall will open 90 minutes prior to this performance. Arrive early to enjoy the exhibitions and light fare available at Heidi's Place.
Tickets start at $29.
Naples Philharmonic
Naples Philharmonic
Founded in 1982, the Naples Philharmonic normally performs over 140 orchestral and chamber concerts, as well as opera and ballet, education, community and special event concerts from September through June each year.
Meet the Musicians
Alexander Shelley
Artistic and Music Director Meet Alexander
Jack Everly
Principal Pops Conductor Meet Jack
James Ehnes
Artistic Partner Meet James
Manuel López-Gómez
Associate Conductor Meet Manuel
Alvin Ho
Assistant Conductor Meet Alvin
Hans Graf
Hans Graf
Known for his wide range of repertoire and creative programming, Austrian conductor Hans Graf is one of today’s most highly respected and experienced musicians.
Graf currently holds the title of principal guest conductor of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra of Denmark and formerly served as music director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, among others.
He has appeared with many of the world’s major orchestras, including The Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic; the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra Ottawa, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and many others.
A frequent conductor at the Salzburg Festival since 1983, Graf has also participated in many prestigious festivals across the globe.
In the world of opera, Graf has led performances at the Vienna State Opera and in various of the opera houses of Munich, Berlin, Paris and Rome, among others.
Graf’s extensive discography includes all the symphonies of Mozart and Schubert and the complete orchestral works of Henri Dutilleux.
Zachary DePue
Zachary DePue
Zachary DePue became one of the youngest concertmasters in the country when he was appointed to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) in 2007. For more than a decade, Zachary served the orchestra as a passionate and dedicated leader both in and outside the concert hall. He was named a member of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series, connecting Indianapolis’ emerging leaders to the issues and needs of the community. He rose to international prominence as a founding member of the string trio Time for Three, with whom he performed for 15 years. Zachary graduated in 2002 from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he served as concertmaster of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra and studied with renowned violinists Ida Kavafian and Jaime Laredo. He is a former member of The Philadelphia Orchestra, where he performed in the first violin section for five years.
