“The San José Chamber Orchestra, joined by the Delphi Piano Trio, will give the world premiere of … two commissioned works at its March 20 concert,” writes Iris Kwok in Sunday’s (3/13) San Francisco Classical Voice. “On the program are A Story of Mermaids, a new triple concerto composed by Brazilian American composer Clarice Assad, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56, and nonbinary composer Ahmed Alabaca’s Unbreakable…. The SJCO has [commissioned] an impressive 12 new works for its 2021–2022 season…. Assad’s A Story of Mermaids … is a direct response to Beethoven’s imposing triple concerto. The work, [Music Director Barbara Day] Turner says, exemplifies how new music can feel right at home when placed next to the old…. Assad’s concerto explores mermaid mythology from around the world…. The concerto can also be interpreted as one that explores female empowerment and agency … For [Delphi Trio violinist and San José Chamber Orchestra Concertmaster Liana] Bérubé, having the opportunity to bring to life new music written by women composers with a group of ‘fairly formidable’ female musicians is something quite special. ‘Personally, there’s an element of reclaiming my own identity … or even encouraging it to emerge more,’ Bérubé says.”
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