

Featuring Breathe by Carlos Simon, Samuel Barber's Cello Concerto, featuring Brent Selby, and
Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein.
Carlos Simon is the Composer Chair for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and is the Composer in Residence for the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Breathe was commissioned in 2021 for the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. Of this piece, Simon writes:
One of my favorite books to read and re-read has been Meditations of the Heart written by renowned theologian, Howard Thurman. A spiritual advisor to many including Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurman was a prolific writer and preacher who lived in San Francisco for a large part of his life. Meditations of the Heart is a collection of meditations and prayers on the beauty of humanity. I was deeply inspired by one section entitled “Still Dews of Quietness”, which urges one to “stay put for a spell”. Through his words, I wanted to take the gesture further by writing a piece that encourages others to simply reflect and breathe.
We're excited to welcome our cello soloist, Brent Selby, to perform Samuel Barber's Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra This work was completed in 1945 and premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1946. When Samuel Barber was asked for a program note for a performance in 1950, he upheld adamantly “the wishes of the composer that no analysis be printed.” On another occasion, Barber stated that the Concerto stands on “its own musical terms, which do not call for verbal description or analysis.” You can see what you think via the above link -- we think it's well worth hearing.
Lastly on the program is Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. This features nine themes from the iconic musical adapted for large symphony orchestra. The story centers on the star-crossed love despite the deep seated rivalry between two gangs. The musical was an instant hit in 1957 on Broadway and has been performed all over the world. It is recognized for its innovations in dance, music and theatrical style, and has been remade many times over.