“The Allentown Symphony Orchestra, under conductor Diane Wittry, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Earth Day Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 at Miller Symphony Hall,” writes Steve Siegel in Monday’s (3/2) Morning Call (Allentown, PA). “In addition to two takes on the four seasons—Vivaldi’s perennial classic and Piazzolla’s tango-infused version—we’ll hear Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, ‘Pastoral,’ and the world premiere of American composer Christopher Theofanidis’ ‘If Falling is a Leaf.’ … Featured soloist in selections from Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ and Piazzolla’s ‘The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires’ will by violinist Lindsay Deutsch.… Theofanidis’ ‘If Falling is a Leaf’ was co-commissioned by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and the Wildlands Conservancy in memory of Gloria Peter Pool and Leonard Parker Pool…. ‘I wanted something that would partner well with the Vivaldi, so I was very specific about its instrumentation, which uses just strings and harpsichord,’ says Wittry.” Theofanidis said the score is inspired by “a poem that was written for this occasion by a friend of mine…. But the poem itself is also responding to a David Hockney painting called ‘Autumn Leaves.’ … I love the vibrancy of fall—the colors, the wind, the air.’ ”
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