A New World Odyssey: Adams, Adès, DvoŘák

Elena Schwarz, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin
San Diego Symphony Orchestra

JOHN ADAMS: The Chairman Dances (Foxtrot for Orchestra)
THOMAS ADÈS: Violin Concerto, Concentric Paths
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, From the New World

Elena Schwarz takes the podium to lead the Symphony in a program of modern masterworks by John Adams and Thomas Adès and one of Western classical music’s most beloved and recognizable works: Dvořák's Symphony No. 9. Adams composed The Chairman Dances while working on his opera Nixon in China inspired by an image of Mao Tse-Tung dancing the foxtrot. A specialist in the works of living composers, Leila Josefowicz joins the Symphony for Adès’ modern masterpiece Concentric Paths, co-commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic by the composer who also has many ties to – and a strong history with – California. Written while he was living in the United States, Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 drew inspiration from African-American spirituals introduced to him by his then-student, the great pioneer of American music, composer Harry T. Burleigh.

Come enjoy a pre-concert talk covering highlights and backstories of this program, one hour before concert-time.

Guest speaker for this weekend: Texu Kim, SDSU Associate Professor of Music Composition/Theory.

Ace Parking has provided a DEDICATED JACOBS MUSIC CENTER PARKING PRE-PURCHASE PAGE for upcoming events at JMC.