“This year I am lucky to have already received a gift that will be hard to top: my professional debut with my hometown orchestra, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic,” writes cellist Joshua Roman on Wednesday (12/16) at the streaming channel Second Inversion (Seattle). “This was made all the more sweet by bringing the totally on fleek new concerto by Mason Bates…. The last time I performed with the OKC Phil was more than 15 years ago [when] as a result of winning a local competition I performed the first movement of the Lalo Concerto…. I’ve always wanted to have something to say when I came back, and there is nothing better than reinforcing the idea that classical music is alive. It is a tradition of creativity and innovation, and a piece like Mason’s really drives that home in a fresh and exciting way…. I’m proud of the Phil and how they are playing, and hope to find ways to encourage the musical development that’s already happening in the area.” Roman premiered the Bates Cello Concerto with the Seattle Symphony in 2014; this season he will also perform it with the Fort Worth Symphony and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
Posted December 21, 2015
