The Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Adam Flatt.
In Thursday’s (4/25) Tuscaloosa News (Alabama), Mark Hughes Cobb writes, “For Monday’s ‘Heroes’ concert, closing the 2023-24 ‘Sounds of Triumph’ season, celebrating human spirit, hope and resiliency, Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra Music Director Adam Flatt programmed two culminating pieces … ‘New Morning for the World—Daybreak of Freedom,’ and … ‘Beethoven’s Eroica. The former will feature actor-singer-musician Willie Williams, a Tuscaloosa native, reading texts from speeches by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., with the chamber music edition of Joseph Schwanter’s Pulitzer-winning composition, a piece that’s been compared to Aaron Copland’s ‘Lincoln Portrait’ due to its broad and lyrical scoring, matched to spoken words. When Flatt chose it, TSO Executive Director Natassia Perrinne knew Williams would fit … Patrons might recall Williams from numerous performances on local stages … ‘I think everybody would agree that we still need MLK’s words today, in 2024,’ Perrine said…. The TSO has announced its 2024-2025 season, ‘Stars Fell on Alabama,’ featuring a pair of guest artists, and four soloists from within the orchestra, ‘a star on every concert,’ Perrine said…. The TSO will offer six subscription performances this [coming] season…. The season finale, April 21 [2025], will be ‘Hymns for Everyone,’ after Jessie Montgomery’s ‘A Hymn for Everyone,’ which will be performed along with Sibelius’ ‘Finlandia,’ ‘The Swan of Tuonela,’ and ‘Lemminkäinen’s Return.’ TSO pianist Kevin Chance will be featured on the concluding Grieg work, Piano Concerto in A minor.”
