SIGNATURE FESTIVALS & HISTORIC CELEBRATIONS
The BSO celebrates the 150 th birthday of Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff in 2023 . The subscription series showcases three of his most popular works for orchestra – his Symphony No . 2 , Piano Concerto No . 3 featuring Russian-American pianist Olga Kern , and Symphonic Dances – with informative pre- and postconcert events highlighting the composer ’ s life and works . The BSO will also perform Rachmaninoff ’ s The Bells with the Cathedral Choral Society at the historic Washington National Cathedral in March .
Gospel music is a quintessentially American art form . Designed with gospel-lovers and newcomers in mind , and under the direction of BSO Assistant Conductor Jonathan Rush , the BSO ’ s GospelFest 2023 will feature the powerhouse choirs of Morgan State and Howard Universities , along with gospel stars Richard Smallwood and Tasha Cobbs Leonard , in a week of programs that also features a world premiere commission for orchestra by Adolphus Hailstork .
MAJOR CHORAL WORKS
Artistic Advisor James Conlon shares his gift for choral works through two spiritual showpieces , Bernstein ’ s Symphony No . 3 , “ Kaddish ” and Verdi ’ s Requiem . The BSO partners with the University of Maryland Concert Choir and the Maryland State Boychoir in Bernstein ’ s programmatic choral symphony , and Judith and Leah Pisar deliver the narration written by the late author and Holocaust survivor Samuel Pisar . Opera superstars Michelle Bradley , Yulia Matochkina , Russell Thomas , and Morris Robinson share the stage for Verdi ’ s Requiem .
BOLD NEW MUSIC
American composer Jessie Montgomery partners with the BSO on a new co-commission as part of New Music USA ’ s Amplifying Voices , a program focused on fostering racial and gender equity in classical music . BSO Artistic Partner Wordsmith gives the world premiere of his new narration to Stravinsky ’ s A Soldier ’ s Tale . Additional highlights include two BSO co-commissions : the world premiere of Huang Ruo ’ s Tipping Point , and Joel Thompson ’ s To Awaken the Sleeper , inspired by the words and sentiments of American author James Baldwin .
5