well as many other corporate and civic leaders .
The eagerly awaited centerpiece of the evening was , of course , the Gala performance itself . Not only was it the start of a new season and Jonathon Heyward ’ s first concert as Music Director , but it presented an opportunity for the Maestro to share his vision for the Orchestra — on and off stage — for the years ahead .
Jonathon might have opted to conduct a more traditional program , perhaps bringing a fresh interpretation to familiar classics , but there would be plenty of time for that later . Instead , he embraced a celebratory theme by bringing together multiple art forms , programming a kaleidoscopic array of dance-inspired short works and movements , some familiar but most rarely heard . The pieces spanned nearly four centuries of music history , from ballet movements by Tchaikovsky and Falla , to rustic , folk-inspired dances by Bartók , Brahms , and Shostakovich .
And what better way to highlight the vitality of dance than to invite the famed Dance Theatre of Harlem as guest performers ? Equal parts elegant and electric , the old and the new worked together in counterpoint as the dancers unveiled world premiere choreography to Adolphus Hailstork ’ s Symphony No . 1 , and modern dance brought new life to a beloved Baroque masterwork in J . S . Bach ’ s Violin Concerto No . 1 in A minor .
The soloist was Runa Matsushita , only 17 years old . A member of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra ( BSYO ) since second grade , she first performed as soloist with the BSO at age 11 . Runa brought grace and poise to Bach ’ s Adagio , with a purity of tone that soared above the orchestral accompaniment , then deftly maneuvered her way through the tricky Allegro assai .
Runa wasn ’ t the only young talent showcased on the Gala stage . Later in the program , the BSO was joined by members of BSYO and OrchKids in a tuneful waltz by Shostakovich . Baton at the ready , Jonathon grinned as he queued its charming “ oom-pah-pahs ,” guiding the ensemble through lilting melodies and deadpan musical humor . The BSO family was together in its totality , a place where musicians of all ages could perform sideby-side . After the performance , Jonathon and the musicians reunited with patrons to raise a toast to a new era for the BSO .
Building on Friday ’ s success at Strathmore , Saturday evening brought the who ’ s who of Baltimore to the Meyerhoff for a party unlike any other . The sold-out , pre-concert celebrations saw 800 patrons brave the inclement weather to gather in the largest tent ever constructed on the Meyerhoff ’ s footprint . The hottest ticket in town , everyone from Broadway legend André de Shields to State Senate President Bill Ferguson , Speaker of the House Adrienne A . Jones , and Comptroller of Maryland
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Brooke Lierman made it a priority to celebrate the moment with Jonathon and the BSO .
Concert patrons arrived in droves , welcomed into the Meyerhoff by the sounds of live jazz ( performed by members of the BSO OrchKids teaching artist staff ) piped in live from the sponsor tent . Large-scale instrument sculptures , commissioned for the occasion by Baltimore artist Reed Bmore , decked the lobby , and all patrons received a commemorative magnet to take a piece of the BSO and Jonathon Heyward home with them . At 8 pm , the concert began , and the Hall sounded better than ever . Audience members sat enraptured by another incredible performance .
The closing event of the week-long , state-wide celebration , Sunday afternoon saw the Gala performance repeated at the Meyerhoff as part of a free community concert celebrating the return of Artscape . Thanks to special support from the Catholic Charities , The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore , and the City of Baltimore , enthusiastic citizens , neighbors , and Artscape attendees came out in full force to witness the momentous occasion .
In short , the 2023 – 24 Gala was historic . Sponsorships , ticket sales , a silent auction , and a text-to-give effort raised more money than any other Gala in the BSO ’ s history . More importantly , the weekend offered a glimpse of the Baltimore Symphony ’ s future under Jonathon Heyward : imaginative , bold , and full of life .
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