“A thoroughly modern American orchestra should, by definition, play its share of modern music,” writes Kurt Loft in Sunday’s (2/16) Tampa Tribune (Florida). “The Florida Orchestra places an accent on such diversity in the 14 masterworks programs that make up its 2014-15 season, which begins in October. The musicians will perform nearly a dozen pieces for the first time, including four by American composers…. CEO Michael Pastreich says [that] ‘The role of a symphony orchestra is more than to be a museum. We need to offer a more expansive view of what we are and what we can be. I think we’re doing that.’ … Audiences will hear … fresh interpretations of ‘Lollapalooza’ by John Adams; ‘Three Studies from Couperin’ by Thomas Ades; ‘Central Park in the Dark’ by Charles Ives; ‘Finding Rothko’ by Adam Schoenberg; and ‘Mutations from Bach for Brass and Timpani’ by Samuel Barber” along with works by Dutilleux, Rimsky-Korsakov, Ravel, Orff, Holst, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler. “The orchestra’s emphasis on exploring new or neglected repertoire continues from the current season, in which the musicians play 16 works for the first time. That makes 27 premieres over two seasons, an indication of the orchestra’s desire for program balance.”
Posted February 18, 2014
