The Asheville Symphony Orchestra (ASO) presents an all-American program on Saturday, November 19, at 8 p.m., at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in downtown Asheville. The evening will highlight George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue featuring pianist Conrad Tao, a Gilmore Young Artist who has received the Avery Fisher Career Grant and was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts
“Rhapsody in Blue is a somewhat epochal work in its explicit use of popular forms within a concert music context,” says Tao. “Pair that with Gershwin’s signature melodic prowess and you’ve got a classic of American literature.”
The night’s program also includes two pieces by Aaron Copland. The first, Our Town, captures an American mood and sound that is an instantly recognizable evocation of small-town life influenced by the style of New England Congregationalist hymns. Copland’s second piece, Billy the Kid, with its whip cracks and gunfight, embodies western drama and is notable in its use of upper winds and muted trumpet in imitation of the harmonica. A fourth piece, David Diamond’s Symphony No. 4, composed in 1945, puts an American twist on work inspired by European musical forms.
“The pieces encompass such a range,” says Daniel Meyer, ASO’s music director and the conductor for the evening. “We make a concerted effort to play music of our time and music of our home country. It’s important that we support living composers and show the audience what a rich musical heritage we really have.”
ASO, established in 1960, presents seven full orchestra Masterworks concerts per year at the 2,400-seat auditorium in the US Cellular Center. Each concert features a performance by a guest artist and a combination of old favorites and more recent works.
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium is at 87 Haywood Street, Asheville. Tickets are $22–$62 depending on seating section. Reduced student pricing is available. For tickets or information, visit ashevillesymphony.org or call 828.254.7046.
