“The overshadowing spirit of kindness and justice in the Hemisphere” is the title of the fourth movement of American composer William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 5. It is it with the hope that we move towards that vision that SPM embarks on its five-concert tribute to America’s 250 th . The African-American Still is considered the first composer to create a truly American classical music sound with his heartfelt melodies, lively rhythms, and descriptive tone painting. Along with SPM’s first performance of a Still piece are two beloved works by Johannes Brahms, the stirring “Tragic Overture” and the iconic 2nd Piano Concerto, often cited as one of the five greatest piano concertos ever written.

Joining SPM to perform this life-affirming work is major young American Pianist Clayton Stephenson, hailed for his “extraordinary narrative and poetic gifts” and interpretations that are “fresh, incisive and characterfully alive” by Gramophone Magazine.

SPM’s second concert portrays two aspects of life in America from the citizens’ perspective and one from a Czech man who would become known as the most influential European composer to work in the US. We hear pioneering New England composer Charles Ives’ Variations on “America” embrace the many faces of American patriotism from profound to humorous and Copland’s Billy the Kid Suite portray the rollicking energy of the Wild West. Although not composed during his stay in the US, Dvorak’s Violin Concerto is imbued with the same spirit as his New World Symphony and American String Quartet.

After triumphant performances of Anton Bruckner’s 5 th two seasons ago, SPM returns to the last great late romantic symphonist in his final complete work, the monumental Symphony No. 8, described as containing music of “sheer, breathtaking magnificence.”  You will hear everything from Bruckner’s “battles of demons” to his moments of transcendent light. Like his friend, Gustav Mahler’s, his symphonies embrace all of human experience and end with redemptive glory! One experiencers music like no other, and, in the end, is uplifted to the heavens. Reflecting the composer’s profound religious faith, we open the concert with a compelling arrangement for strings of Randall Thomposon’s beloved “Alleluia.”

After reading W.H. Auden’s “The Age of Anxiety,” Leonard Bernstein declared it “one of the most shattering examples of pure virtuosity in the history of English poetry”.  He went on to write his colorful Symphony No. 2, which describes the atmospheres and moods of the literary work in his distinctly American musical voice. As much a piano concerto as a symphony, our soloist for the work will be young rising-star Mexican pianist, Ana Gabriela Fernâdez, who will bring her love for the music and ebullient spirit to our performances. We’re also thrilled to present two younger rising-star violinists, 14-year-old Samuel Lee and 15-year-old Takahiro Higuchi, both making their orchestral soloist debuts! They will perform the high-energy Concerto for Two Violins by Vivaldi, the spiky Concerto for Two Violins by Bronislav Martinu and the high-intensity, virtuosic “Navarra” by Pablo de Sarasate.

‍