There is something special about all three works on this program. The “big” work is the ever-popular Tchaikovsky Fifth Symphony, perhaps one of the dozen most popular symphonies in the world, and for good reason – who can resist its sumptuously romantic melodies, its rhythmic momentum, its thrilling rides to climaxes, and its exuberantly joyful final pages? Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto features one of today’s most exciting violinists of the younger generation, Marc Bouchkov, a prize-winner at recent Queen Elizabeth and Montreal competitions. To open the concert we hear another in the NSO’s series of Taiwanese works, this one from internationally-known composer and pianist Ming-Hsiu Yen, familiar to NSO audiences for her pre-concert talks and participation in chamber music concerts. Her Ciina Cuuma, is derived from an ancient ritual of Kanakanavu.