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Boston Classical Review
March 25 2015
March 25, 2015 at 1:37 pm
By Aaron Keebaugh
Three years ago, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with financial help
from the Gomidas Organ Fund, commissioned Michael Gandolfi for an
organ concerto. And Thursday night at Symphony Hall, Gandolfi's
Ascending Light will receive its long-awaited world premiere when
Andris Nelsons leads the work with the BSO. French organist Olivier
Latry will perform as soloist.
Ascending Light was written to mark the centennial of the Armenian
genocide. It also will serve to memorialize the Armenian-American
organist Berj Zamkochian, who performed regularly with the BSO for
almost forty years. (Zamkochian was the soloist on Charles Munch's
celebrated BSO recording of Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3.)
The work promises to make dramatic and powerful use of the organ and
orchestra, though the music will be firmly rooted in Armenian sources.
The second movement will feature variations on a famous Armenian tune
"Lullaby of Tigranakert," as well as statements of "Aravot Lousaber"
("Ascending Light"), a religious melody that gives the concerto
its name.
Filling out the program will be Mahler's colossal and tragic Symphony
No. 6.
The program will be performed 8 p.m. Thursday, 1:30 p.m. Friday,
and 8 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday at Symphony Hall. bso.org; 617-266-1492
http://bostonclassicalreview.com/2015/03/critics-choice-18/
March 25 2015
March 25, 2015 at 1:37 pm
By Aaron Keebaugh
Three years ago, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with financial help
from the Gomidas Organ Fund, commissioned Michael Gandolfi for an
organ concerto. And Thursday night at Symphony Hall, Gandolfi's
Ascending Light will receive its long-awaited world premiere when
Andris Nelsons leads the work with the BSO. French organist Olivier
Latry will perform as soloist.
Ascending Light was written to mark the centennial of the Armenian
genocide. It also will serve to memorialize the Armenian-American
organist Berj Zamkochian, who performed regularly with the BSO for
almost forty years. (Zamkochian was the soloist on Charles Munch's
celebrated BSO recording of Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3.)
The work promises to make dramatic and powerful use of the organ and
orchestra, though the music will be firmly rooted in Armenian sources.
The second movement will feature variations on a famous Armenian tune
"Lullaby of Tigranakert," as well as statements of "Aravot Lousaber"
("Ascending Light"), a religious melody that gives the concerto
its name.
Filling out the program will be Mahler's colossal and tragic Symphony
No. 6.
The program will be performed 8 p.m. Thursday, 1:30 p.m. Friday,
and 8 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday at Symphony Hall. bso.org; 617-266-1492
http://bostonclassicalreview.com/2015/03/critics-choice-18/