Fantasy on Little Russian Songs

In 1883 David Popper made a repeated guest appearance in St. Petersburg, and his first wife, the pianist Sophie Menter, was appointed to the conservatory there. Popper played his Cello Concerto No. 2, Op. 24 (on Carl Davidoff's Stradivarius cello, owned in the 20th century by Jacqueline du Pré and Mstislav Rostropovich and currently played by Yo-Yo Ma) with the Court Opera Orchestra on March 11. According to his own accounts, the third variation of the Fantasia on Little Russian Songs, Op. 43 is a memory of a sleigh ride to the castle of a music-loving prince who, following the ride, gave Popper the gift of the fur coat that kept him warm.