This concert marks 45 years since the New York Native published the first-ever news article on AIDS in May of 1981. As he lost friends to the epidemic, New York composer John Corigliano wrote his First Symphony, pouring into it his anger and love. This powerful work, a musical answer to the AIDS Memorial Quilt, ends in serenity and consolation. Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto is steeped in elegiac lyricism, especially in the hands of guest violinist Blake Pouliot, “one of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime” (Toronto Star). Through the lens of Benjamin Britten’s arrangement, Gustav Mahler’s tender What the Wild Flowers Tell Me offers a sweet balm for the soul. The evening also includes a participatory performance of Pauline Oliveros’ Heart Chant, inviting the audience to create a collective space of healing and unity.
Tickets are $40 and $35 for Student/Senior/Disabled admission. Buy your tickets before midnight on May 8 for a $5 discount.
[Program notes taken from the Queer Urban Orchestra’s webpage: https://www.queerurbanorchestra.org/tickets/]