Andrew Grams, conductor
†Elliott Carter Sound Fields
†John Coltrane, arr. David Balakrishnan A Love Supreme
†Aaron Copland Suite from Appalachian Spring
Have you ever wondered what the great composers would talk about if they all got together for dinner? This program is that conversation, spanning centuries and musical styles but united by wit, charm, and genius. First it’s Mozart’s radiant Symphony No. 29, a piece written when he was just 18 years old, yet full of a joyful energy and sophisticated elegance that will simply take your breath away.
Next, you’ll hear Haydn’s lively Sinfonia Concertante: a delightful piece that puts our own musicians (a violin, cello, oboe, and bassoon) at the heart of the action. You’ll hear them “talk” to each other and to the orchestra, passing melodies back and forth. Then, we go to the 20th century: Stravinsky, known for his revolutionary music, turned to the great Baroque composers for inspiration and created a piece that is as witty, surprising, and full of life as the legendary gardens it was named for.