Overture Magazine: 2017-2018 Season September-October 2017 | Page 11

end to the weekend, leaving the audience
visibly moved and enjoying the work’s
themes of civic pride.
The New Music Festival also presented
works by international artists: Iranian
composer Gity Razaz, Polish composer
Agata Zubel and German-born, Syrian-
American composer Malek Jandali.
In this way, Alsop used the festival as
an opportunity not only to incorporate hometown connections
and expose Baltimore to new, compelling repertoire, but also as
a means of reaching listeners on a global scale and participating
in international discourse.
That goal was perhaps most fully realized with the World
Premiere of Jandali’s The Silent Ocean, a BSO commis-
sion. In his symphonic poem, Jandali tells the fictional, yet
sadly realistic story of a young girl escaping her home in
war-torn Syria. Having lost her family and unable to take
any possessions with her, the child is forced to flee with
only the memory of a tune sung to her by her grandfather.
“As an American composer and musician with a mission, it
is my duty to preserve and present the rich heritage of my
beloved homeland, Syria,” says Jandali. “The commissioning
of my symphonic poem The Silent Ocean by Maestra Alsop and
the World Premiere with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
is a beacon of hope that we are united in our shared human
values through a meaningful symphony for peace in the world.”
Earlier in the evening, Jandali had presented Alsop with the
Ambassador for Peace Award on behalf of Pianos for Peace,
his nonprofit organization committed to promoting peace
through music and education.
Polish composer and soprano Agata Zubel was also featured
throughout the weekend’s events. An avant-garde performer and
tremendously talented vocalist, Zubel saw the BSO Premieres of
three of her works. Two of those pieces featured her as soloist:
Labyrinth and Chapter 13, which sets to music a portion of the
French novel, The Little Prince. “Her work is very eclectic. It really
crosses over many different boundaries,” says Alsop.
Between the chamber and orchestral performances, the BSO
ventured into new territory by presenting a jam concert at North
Avenue’s Joe Squared. In front of a packed house, BSO musicians
Malek Jandali presents Marin Alsop with the Ambassador for Peace Award
“
The really
exciting thing
about new
music is that
it captures
the time we’re
living in. ”
and Baltimore-based new music groups played Beethoven and
Philip Glass alongside brand-new works by young, local artists. “We
thought hosting a performance outside of the concert hall would
be a great way to bring the festival vibe to life,” says BSO Audience
Development Manager Rafaela Dreisin. “Something like this may
not have been possible in another city, but Baltimore is lucky to
boast a high concentration of adventurous music lovers who are
willing to experience something new.”  The crowd made it clear that
it hoped to see similar community outreach events in the future.
In the end, Alsop’s vision came to life in a way that engaged
listeners through a stimulating new platform. “The really
exciting thing about new music is that it captures the time we’re
living in,” she says. “It speaks to the issues that we’re dealing with
that we face every single day.”
As the pioneering leader she is, though, Alsop is already looking
ahead: “We have one of the finest orchestras in the world and
continuing to present projects like this will enable us to push our
artistic bar higher.”

S E P – O C T 2017 / OV E R T U R E
9