Friday’s (10/23) St. Louis American reports, “This weekend the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra will spotlight African-American talent to a degree that is very rare on the classical music stage. In two concerts, Oct. 22 and 23, SLSO will feature a world premiere by an African-American composer (Rollo Dilworth), choral direction by a black man (Robert Ray), vocal solos by an African-Canadian soprano (Measha Brueggergosman) and an African-American baritone (Jubilant Sykes), and a chorus drawn from local black churches (SLSO In Unison Chorus). Better yet, the Thursday, Oct. 22 performance at Powell Symphony Hall is a free concert for students only. The world premiere of Dilworth’s Freedom’s Plow is the highlight of this program that features African-American genius so prominently. The piece is scored for mixed chorus, with an orchestra of two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, three trumpets, two trombones, percussion, piano and strings, under the direction of David Robertson, musical director of SLSO. It was commissioned by the orchestra to commemorate the 15th anniversary season of its In Unison Chorus.”
Posted October 23, 2009
