I’ve been pondering Ron Blessinger’s thoughts on the 2008-2009 season programming at the OSO, and the more I think about it, the more I wish there were not only works by living composers, but that there were works which have received their first performances at least since 1995. Why 1995? Because this is my blog, that’s why.
My list is terribly subjective, and it reflects what I like to listen to – I’m not a big Babbit or Carter fan (though there is some Carter that I do find terrible fascinating, especially his string quartets) – and what I think will draw audiences in Portland, Oregon.
Feel free to add your own suggestions.
Here goes:
We’ve had a few important commissions here at the Oregon Symphony, but the works have not been revisited since their inaugural performances – a complete and total mystery. It would be like the Philadelphia Orchestra never again programming the Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances after they performed the world premiere. These are highly listenable and engaging works which are not long in duration and would find appreciative audiences.
John Adams – Slonimsky’s Earbox (1996) – an OSO centennial co-commission with the Hallé Orchestra.
Jennifer Higdon – Shine (1995) – also an OSO centennial commission, which Higdon credits with jump-starting her now very impressive and highly visible career.
Thomas Svoboda – Marimba Concerto (1995) – a major work, nominated for a Grammy award, which should be heard again.
++++++
We’ve established some important connections with soloists over the years, and some very important new works have been written specifically for these soloists, or they have taken them up as works worthy of being championed. Why not tie-in the popularity of these soloists with important new works?
Oliver Knussen – Violin Concerto (2002) – currently being championed by audience favorite Leila Josefowicz. A strong work, tonal and accessible. You can download the work at iTunes right now – so do it!
John Adams – Century Rolls (1999) – a piano concerto written for and recorded by Emanuel Ax (who hasn’t made an OSO appearance since 1995) and considered a seminal work by Adams, who is now really on Portland audiences’ radar after the press jamboree around the Chamber Symphony performances this season.
John Corigliano – Concerto for Violin The Red Violin (2003) – Corigliano celebrated his 70th birthday this year and Joshua Bell has been performing many of his permutations of music from The Red Violin film score (including recording the violin solos for the film).
Osvaldo Golijov – Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra (2002) – much of this enormously popular composer’s vocal music has been championed by Portland favorite Dawn Upshaw.
Jennifer Higdon – The Singing Rooms for violin and orchestra (2007) – written for Jennifer Koh, who performed the Szymanowski 2nd Violin Concerto with the OSO last season.
Steven Mackey – Time Release (2008) – written for percussionist Colin Currie, who has made several highly-successful appearances in Portland since Carlos Kalmar has taken over. Just given its New York debut at Carnegie Hall with Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony.
Jennifer Higdon – Violin Concerto – tbd – written for the superb and in-demand violinist Hilary Hahn (who has not yet made a Portland appearance) and is a co-commission of the Baltimore Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and the Curtis Institute of Music.
Other works that I just like:
Thomas Ad̩s РViolin Concerto (2005) Рby the current reigning enfant terrible of the European music scene.
Jennifer Higdon – blue cathedral (1999) – one of the most ecstatically beautiful pieces written in the second half of the 20th century – a complete mystery why it hasn’t been done here yet. I’m sure that the Eugene Symphony has or will shortly do it, however.
Daniel Ott – Firebrand (2001-2) – a superb, virtuosic curtain-opener (or encore) commissioned by the National Symphony and Leonard Slatkin.
Osvaldo Golijov – La Pasión según San Marcos (2000) – a wonderful, kaleidoscopic view of the Passion of St. Mark by a turn-of-the-new-century master.
John Corigliano – Symphony No. 2 for string orchestra (2000) – an orchestral transcription of his wonderful String Quartet. Commissioned by the Boston Symphony.
John Adams – Doctor Atomic Symphony (2005) – a symphonic distillation of his most recently completed operatic work concerning the Manhatten Project and Robert Oppenheimer.
John Adams – Son of Chamber Symphony (2007) – a no-brainer – after all the hoopla surrounding the Chamber Symphony performances (which the audiences seemed to love), program this piece while it’s still on their minds.
There ya go – discuss…
Here are links to the websites of all the composers listed: