Bartók, America, Rhythm

Marin Alsop is back, eighteen years after she first conducted the Concertgebouw Orchestra. She will conduct Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, which may be that Hungarian composer’s most famous work. The piece was written in the United States, where Bartók had sought refuge from WWII. It marked the final, inspired resurgence of his compositional activities before his death in 1945. Dance, rhythm, and folk music play a crucial role. That explains why the Concerto for Orchestra is a good fit with the music of John Adams and Jessie Montgomery, two American composers whose feet are firmly planted in the here and now.

In Jessie Montgomery’s Strum, guitar-like chords in the strings take on many different forms. The work is a salute to various styles of American folk music and the power of dance and movement. And although the Concertgebouw Orchestra is no stranger to the works of John Adams, a performance of his Fearful Symmetries is long overdue! With its driving, layered rhythms showing off the influence of Wagner, Philip Glass, pop music and boogie-woogie, this piece is vintage John Adams.

Meet the artist - After the concert, you are welcome in the Mirror Hall to meet conductor Marin Alsop, orchestra members Leonie Bot (violin) and Katy Woolley (horn). Planning & Production Manager Lisette Castel will talk with them about the programme.

Read the interview with Marin Alsop here.