An American In Paris: World Winds

Thursday, June 9, 2016 - Sunday, June 12, 2016

Belding Theater at The Bushnell

Thursday at 7:30pm
Friday & Saturday at 8pm
Sunday at 3pm

Gershwin
An American in Paris
Golijov
Rose of the Winds
Rachmaninoff
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45

Featuring
Carolyn Kuan, conductor
Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh
David Krakauer, klezmer clarinet
Christina Pato, Galician bagpipe
Michael Ward-Bergeman, accordion

Our season finale is a “world-wind” tour of exotic international sights and sounds featuring our woodwind section! George Gershwin’s jazz-influenced symphonic poem evokes the energy he witnessed in Paris during the 1920s, and remains one of his best-known and most beloved compositions. Osvaldo Golijov’s Rose of the Winds is a “bold yet seamless melding of musical resonances from Christian, Arabic and Jewish traditions, with ear-catching instrumental sounds and colors representing numerous points of the compass,” said the Chicago Tribune. Symphonic Dances was Rachmaninoff’s last completed composition and is a stunning virtuoso showpiece for orchestra, combining energetic rhythmic sections with lush harmonies.

For Golijov’s Rose of the Winds, David Krakauer on klezmer clarinet will be joined by a chorus of 10 shofars played by the HSO brass section!  A shofar, made of a ram’s horn, is an ancient instrument that was referred to as the “natural trumpet.”  Today, shofars (or shofarot in Hebrew) are used in worship services during the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is deeply grateful to those who generously helped secure shofarot for our musicians.  Without each of you, this performance of Golijov’s Rose of the Winds would not have been possible: Dr. Ronald Buckman, The Engel Family, Dr. Bernard Kosto, Rabbi Michael Pincus, Al Reiner, Lance Reiser, Rabbi David J. Small, The Emanuel Synagogue, and Temple Beth Israel.

Please join us for a pre-concert talk, led by HSO Music Director Carolyn Kuan, one hour prior to curtain each day.

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The return of Casey’s Classics
Recommended recordings for your listening pleasure!

Curious about what you will be hearing on the concert program, or want to hear more? Coleman Casey, HSO’s dear friend, Director Emeritus and beloved in-house audiophile, offers the following recommendations for recordings of selections featured on our upcoming Masterworks Concert:

George Gershwin’s An American in Paris is memorably performed by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic (SONY), a sixty year old recording (in stereo) that sounds like it was recorded yesterday, with a verve and energy to match.

Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances have all the Russian darkness and glitter one could hope for in Vladimir Ashkenazy’s recording with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam in a magnificent digital recording from DECCA.

[Golijov’s Rose of the Wind has not been recorded.]

Masterworks #9: Gershwin: Pop artist or classical composer?

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