"Mozart and Rachmaninoff" program presented by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
program

On a warm Sunday afternoon a friend accompanied The Travelling Toe to a performance by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra featuring a work by Mozart and one by Rachmaninoff.  But the program began with a work from a living composer.  

The work was "American Symphony" written by Adam Schoenberg. The symphony has 5 movements and requires a large orchestra and uses many different types of percussion instruments throughout the piece.

Adam Schoenberg
composer

The program notes this comment from Adam:

    ..............the American Symphony in 5 movements reflects a respect and responsibility for
    this great potential of our nation and a hunger to effect positive change. This symphony 
    ends suspended in mid air to remind us that even though we are making positive strides 
    to being a better American we are still searching.

Mr. Schoenberg was in attendance at the performance and spoke with Maestro Miguel 
Harth-Bedoya regarding how the work was composed and came together.  

We both enjoyed his composition very much and hope it will continue to be successful on the concert circuit.  FWSO has a history or presenting  living composers work and having them in attendance to share their insights about what story the music is telling and why. Would it not be interesting to hear those types of thoughts from composers long ago?

After this work, 2 beautiful Steinway concert pianos were rolled on to the stage and soon the orchestra was re-seated for the second selection.  Soon the music of Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra No.10 in E-flat Major" was being performed.

The two pianists featured were Louis Lortie and Helene Mercier.  They are two Canadian artists who have a long history of performing together.  It was so exciting to have not one piano but two playing together and separately and supporting each other.  It was joyful to the ear and to the heart.

Helene Mercier and Louis Lortie

This was a exciting and wonderful performance. 

After a brief intermission, the program closed with Rachmaninoff's "Symphonic Dances".   Alas, The Travelling Toe and seat mate had a previous appointment and was unable to enjoy this piece.  But Rachmaninoff is always wonderful to hear and no one does the better than the FWSO!

Fort Worth Symphony