October 10, 2022

We opened our Lansing Symphony season last Friday night at the Wharton Center. I was encouraged to see a relatively large audience by Covid standards. It seems more people are feeling comfortable venturing out. We of course welcome them, and to those who aren’t ready yet, we certainly understand that too. We will be here when you are ready.
 
This season marks our final season for the LSO’s first ever Composer-in-Residence, Patrick Harlin. The search will soon be on for Patrick’s successor in the position.
It is a three-year residency that, in Patrick's case, extended to 4 years given the “lost year.” We opened Friday with a world premiere of Patrick’s entitled “bloom,” a work inspired by our shifting perceptions of the passage of time. The performance came off beautifully, and the audience was very appreciative.

This work seemed a bit of a departure in style for Patrick, at times emphasizing elemental qualities of music, allowing the listener to just bask in the glow of lush sonorities. At other times the orchestra exploring layers of music, much like layers of flower petals unfolding as it blooms. It is a very compelling work. We will close the season with another premiere from Patrick, a concerto for piano called “The Fourth Pedal.”
 
We followed Patrick’s work with violinist Ade´ Williams in Barber’s Violin Concerto. I’ve known Ade´for many years now and have watched her bloom from a young phenomenon into an outstanding mature artist. Barber’s concerto challenges the soloist (and the orchestra) in myriad ways and Ade´ delivered, winning the audience over.
 
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony 5 brought the program to a close, and the orchestra embraced the work with subtlety, power, style and grace. What a pleasure it was to be a part of that.
 
Next up for us is what I might call a “time capsule” concert. The decades around the turn of the 20th century were unprecedented (and unrivaled since) in terms of the range of musical thought and styles. Our November concert looks at a snapshot of about 35 years surrounding that Fin de siècle. It samples four of the prominent musical movements of the day, featuring music of Debussy, Hindemith, Respighi and Stravinsky. I hope you can join us!
 
NEXT UP
 
Lansing Symphony Orchestra
Wharton Center, East Lansing, Michigan
November 5, 2022
7:30 p.m.
 
Debussy        Prelude to the afternoon of a faun
Hindemith       Symphonie: Mathis der Maler
Respighi          Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite 1
Stravinsky       Firebird Suite, 1919
 
#patrickharlin #lansingsymphony #adewilliams