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PROGRAM NOTES

PROGRAM NOTES

FLORENCE PRICE AND SHOSTAKOVICH

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Eva Ollikainen
Whether in orchestral concerts or leading operative performances , the Finnish conductor Eva Ollikainen impresses audiences with her clear communication , infectious enthusiasm , and her nuanced technique .
Eva Ollikainen is the Artistic Leader and Chief Conductor of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra where in addition to conducting a wide range of standard repertoire , championing new music and planning each season , she has founded a Conducting Academy for young musicians in Iceland with a focus on core symphonic repertoire from Beethoven to Strauss . Eva is also a frequent guest teacher at the Sibelius Academy Conducting Class .
Her guest appearances include concerts and performances with Staatskapelle Dresden , Wiener Symphoniker , BBC Symphony Orchestra , Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra , Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin , Royal Danish Orchestra , Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra and Brussels Philharmonic . Her upcoming American engagements include the Hollywood Bowl , National Orchestra Ottawa , Montreal Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic .
Michelle Cann
Pianist Michelle Cann made her orchestral debut at age 14 and has since performed as a
soloist with numerous orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra , The Cleveland Orchestra , the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra , and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra .
A champion of the music of Florence Price , Ms . Cann performed the New York City premiere of the composer ’ s Piano Concerto in One Movement with The Dream Unfinished Orchestra in July 2016 and the Philadelphia premiere with The Philadelphia Orchestra in February 2021 , which the Philadelphia Inquirer called “ exquisite .”
Highlights of her 2021 – 22 season include debut performances with the Atlanta , Detroit , and St . Louis symphony orchestras , as well as her Canadian concert debut with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa . She also receives the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence , the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization , and the 2022 Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award . Embracing a dual role as both performer and pedagogue , her season includes teaching residencies at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and the National Conference of the Music Teachers National Association .
An award winner at top international competitions , in 2019 she served as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ’ s MAC Music Innovator in recognition of her role as an African-American classical musician who embodies artistry , innovation , and a commitment to education and community engagement .
Eva Ollikainen
Michelle Cann
Experience the Performance Again A livestream of this program is available for a limited time .
Nikolaj Lund
Steven Mareazi Willis
FROM THE PODIUM
by Eva Ollikainen
This time , choosing the programme was more intuitive than intellectual . The starting point was Price ’ s piano concerto , and perhaps the Rachmaninoff inspirations I heard in the piano part threw me to Shostakovich ’ s 5 th symphony . The “ Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes ” by Benjamin Britten felt like a good dramatic and psychological introduction to this programme . I am always fascinated by different ways of orchestrating , different ways of building dramaturgical structure , how composers incorporate narratives into their music . I see these pieces reflecting their creator ’ s times and situations , how some were experiencing hope and optimism , while another was experiencing despair , fear , and tragedy .
I find that orchestras around the world these days do a very valuable job exposing audiences to the overlooked parts of the classical music canon .
I remember from my times as a student hearing about Hildegard von Bingen and Kaija Saariaho and came across Clara Schumann by accident in the library . That moment was revolutionary for me . Who is she , and why don ’ t I know anything about her ? These questions have followed me the past 20 years , and I am still discovering more and more . So , I am thrilled to be conducting Price ’ s piano concerto for the first time , so more people can know this work !
To me , Shostakovich 5 is one of the most touching pieces of music there is . The deep sorrow in the slow movement is the heart of the symphony , surrounded by the terror in the first and last movements and the forced rejoicing in the scherzo . But in the end , what stays after all the oppression , is humanity . If Shostakovich in his circumstances was able to believe in good , then we can too !
JAN-FEB 2023 / OVERTURE 25