Themes of passion, controversy and revolution are brilliantly woven, like richly colored threads, into the tapestry of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s season and celebrates a very singular birthday in history. “Joan of Arc was my impetus; the fact that 2012 will be the 600th anniversary of her birth,” said BSO Music Director Marin Alsop. “That gave me an entry point to talk about and develop programs related to … strong women, issues of … women’s leadership and, of course, featuring women as soloists and composers.”
| Editor’s note |
| For a complete listing of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s 2011-2012 season offerings at Strathmore and for subscription season information call 877.BSO.1444 or log on to BSOmusic.org/subscribe. |
Alsop is no stranger to leadership, celebrating her fifth full season as the first woman to direct a major American symphony orchestra. Under her command, the BSO has become a nationwide leader for its innovative programming and 2011-2012 will be no exception.
“With special emphasis on Joan of Arc … we are uniquely positioned to celebrate the contributions of extraordinary women and their legacy [that] provides an indelible example of heroism that affects us all – male and female,” she continued.
This year, BSO subscribers and all classical concert enthusiasts will be moved by such programs as “Voices of Light,” a remarkable combination of the 1928 landmark silent film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc” with composer Richard Einhorn’s haunting score for live soloists, chorus and orchestra. “Voices of Light” has been praised by the Chicago Sun as a “moving score … sublimely matching one of the great films of all time.”
Also featured in the season is the BSO commission and world premiere of “Chuphsha! Harriet’s Drive to Canaan” by Baltimore-based composer James Lee III. The inspiring orchestral work depicts Harriet Tubman’s yearning for emancipation, drawing on Negro spirituals to express her journey from slavery to freedom. In “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman'” Joan Tower’s work is a tribute to the adventurous women of our time, composed during a period when men dominated the music world. The same concert showcases Jennifer Higdon’s “Percussion Concerto,” which won a 2010 Grammy Award.
Seasoned superstars illuminate the Strathmore stage in 2011-1012, as well. Legendary violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman returns to lead an evening of Vivaldi and Mozart, while celebrated pianist, Andre Watts performs Rachmaninoff’s stellar Piano Concerto No. 2.
“I think this is a really good season, with themes everyone can relate to, like wonderful, familiar [works] and new music,” Alsop said. “I’m really excited about it!”
