Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Ludwig van Beethoven
Harmonium, John Adams
Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1, Joan Tower
Indra Thomas, soprano
Joanna Porackova, mezzo soprano
Giovanni Formisano, tenor
Ron Loyd, baritone
In collaboration with
University Choir and Chamber Choir, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Jonathan Richter, director
Members of the Nashoba Valley Chorale
Anne Watson Born, director
Nashua High School North Concert Choir
Brianne Biastoff, director
The Cambridge Symphony Orchestra joins forces with four acclaimed soloists—Indra Thomas, Joanna Porackova, Giovanni Formisano, and Ron Loyd—and the choral forces of the University Choir and Chamber Choir from University of Massachusetts Lowell, Members of the Nashoba Valley Chorale, and the Nashua High School North Concert Choir to present two powerful works for chorus and orchestra, one classic and one contemporary, side-by-side in concert.
Ludwig van Beethoven completed his Symphony No. 9 (1824) three years before his death. This monumental final symphony, a masterpiece of lyrical beauty and heroic triumph, moves toward utopian celebration with the stirring “Ode to Joy,” for which Beethoven introduced soloists and chorus into a major symphony for the first time.
As a modern complement to Beethoven’s Ninth, John Adams‘ minimalist choral work Harmonium (1981) sets to music the haunting poetry of John Donne and Emily Dickinson. Adams has described the genesis of his composition as “one of human voices – many of them – riding upon waves of rippling sound.” The program opens with Joan Tower‘s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1 (1986) performed by the CSO brass.
The Cambridge Symphony Orchestra thanks the Massachusetts Cultural Council for supporting our 2019-20 season.
Spotlight Partner: Cambridge Women’s Center
We are proud to shine a light on the Cambridge Women’s Center as this concert’s Spotlight Partner. The Cambridge Women’s Center provides a supportive community space for all women by offering opportunities for empowerment, learning, healing, trauma support, and understanding. The intersection of advocating for women’s needs and reflecting on the history of both Cambridge and the literary legacy of Emily Dickinson provides a wonderful link between our organizations for this concert.
Card to Culture
As part of the EBT Card to Culture Program, the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra offers discounted admission to this concert for Massachusetts EBT cardholders: $5 general admission for adults, and free admission for kids 16 and under with the purchase of at least one $5 adult ticket.
This discount program is offered in collaboration with the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Department of Transitional Assistance.
