Sat 9/24 @ 7:30PM
In the last several years, symphonies have increased the diversification of their programming, mingling pieces by under-recognized Black and women composers with the staples of the classical repertoire.
The Akron Symphony Orchestra continues in that vein as it launches its new season at E.J Thomas Hall. “American Fanfare” features work by six American composers, some often heard, others not so much, bringing in different views of the American experience.
A couple of the pieces will be extremely familiar to most: Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and George Gershwin’s An American in Paris. Less known are early 20th-century African-American composer Florence Price’s 1929 Andante moderato, 20th century Pulitzer Prize-winning (1996) Black composer George Walker’s 1957 Trombone Concerto (featuring soloist John Gruber as soloist), Black composer William Grant Still’s 1937 Symphony No. 2 (“Song of the New Race”) (both Walker and Still attended Oberlin conservatory for a short time), and contemporary Chickasaw Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate’s “Moccasin Game,” a tribute to the Lenape indigenous people.
This season is the most inclusive, far-reaching, and thought-provoking we’ve ever produced,” says Music Director Christopher Wilkins in the season announcement release, which calls the season “a year-long celebration of being American, of cultural traditions outside the standard fare, of exciting new voices, and elder statesmen like Beethoven and Mahler.”
Also take note: concert start times this season will be 7:30pm. Go here for more information and tickets.