May 10
California Festival: From the Edge
Composer Gabriella Smith conjures the spaces and sounds of California in the organ concerto Breathing Forests, performed here by James McVinnie. Igor Stravinsky depicts a festive, folk-inflected Slavic wedding in his ballet Les Noces, augmented by Steven Stucky’s orchestration. Stravinsky’s Octet for Winds and Brass, a uniquely scored neoclassical work, was inspired by a late-night dream.
CONDUCTOR
Esa-Pekka Salonen
SOLOISTS
James McVinnie, organ*; Hillary Leben, animation**;
Lauren Snouffer, soprano**; Kayleigh Decker, mezzo-soprano**;
Paul Appleby, tenor**; David Soar, bass**; SFS Chorus**
Igor Stravinsky
Octet for Wind Instruments [1952 revision]
Gabriella Smith
Breathing Forests*
Igor Stravinsky
(Orch. Steven Stucky)
Les Noces**