BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
in tempo
SYMPHONY IN THE CITY
While the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra ( BSO ) is a worldrenowned ensemble , the heart of the organization belongs first and foremost to its local community . This is a commitment shown not only by making our concert spaces a “ Hall for All ,” but also by bringing the beauty of orchestral music directly to Baltimore City and beyond . Few initiatives exemplify that effort more than Symphony in the City , which kicked off its 2023-24 season on November 1 at East Baltimore ’ s Archbishop Borders School — the City ’ s only dual-language , Spanish-immersion Catholic elementary school — with a free performance in celebration of Día de los Muertos .
“ 108 years ago , the BSO was founded as a part of the city of Baltimore — the only major orchestra in the country to identify in this way ,” observed BSO Chief Advancement
Officer Allison Burr-Livingstone in her opening remarks , translated into Spanish by One-Year Associate Concertmaster William Esteban Chiquito Henao . “ Symphony in the City is about honoring those roots , partnering to share music beyond the walls of the Meyerhoff and to ensure the BSO resounds across all of Baltimore . And this year , all of our Symphony in the City programs center around community observances and celebrations — a tribute to the universal language of music and its power to bring us together and to bring joy to the heart !”
Led by the acclaimed Miami-based conductor Jacomo Bairos , the Día de los Muertos concert featured a diverse selection of music from across Latin America , Spain , and the United States . Offering moments of breathtaking beauty , celebration , and reflection , the program included such notable pieces as Arturo Márquez ’ s Danzón No . 2 , Silvestre Revueltas ’ “ Noche de Jaranas ” from La Noche de los Mayas , and Astor Piazzolla ’ s
Oblivion , among others . BSO clarinetist Vitor Trindade dazzled as soloist , and his stage presence was matched only by the school ’ s student performers , spanning from grades K – 8 , who opened the night ’ s performance . And of course , at least half of the audience were also our youngest listeners , who couldn ’ t help but dance in the aisles and conduct from their seats .
Symphony in the City was first launched during the 2019 – 20 season , establishing itself as a beloved initiative that takes the BSO to various Baltimore City neighborhoods and community anchors . “ Symphony in the City is a testament to our commitment to making classical music accessible to everyone ,” said BSO President & CEO Mark Hanson .
A Robert E . Meyerhoff & Rheda Becker Community Performance , the Día de los Muertos performance also owes its success to the generous support of Presenting Sponsor Baltimore Gas & Electric ( BGE ), which made the evening ’ s performance possible . BGE was represented by Cristiano Quijano , Senior Community Relations Specialist , who also gave remarks in English and Spanish .
On January 15 , 2024 , the BSO will hold its next Symphony in the City performance in commemoration of Martin Luther King , Jr . Day . Conducted by Jeri Lynne Johnson , the concert will take place at the B & O Railroad Museum at 7 pm , featuring selections by prominent African-American composers such as Florence Price , Duke Ellington , and Carlos Simon , as well as the world premiere of a new work by BSO Artistic Partner Wordsmith . Later in the season , we look forward to an eagerly anticipated summer performance conducted by BSO Music Director Jonathon Heyward on June 7 , 2024 at Fort McHenry . All Symphony in the City performances are free and open to everyone .
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