PostClassical Ensemble: Dvořák and America

Fri, Mar 1, 2013
8:00PM
Dekelboum Concert Hall

Angel Gil-Ordóñez, Conductor
Joseph Horowitz, Artistic Director
Kevin Deas, Narrator/Baritone 

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, in collaboration with the PostClassical Ensemble, is proud to present Dvořák and America, an evening of time-honored works by Antonín Dvořák and new pieces inspired by the composer's interest in the New Wo2rld. As a part of A Festival of Dvořák’s Exploration in America, this program explores Dvořák's Serenade for Strings, op. 22, the orchestral version of the American Suite in A major, op. 98b, and a creation of Horowitz and Dvořák scholar Michael Beckerman entitled Hiawatha Melodrama, inspired by the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem “The Song of Hiawatha” and drawing on elements of Dvořák’s New World Symphony.

Don't miss the pre-performance events, including a 7:00pm performance of the piano version of Dvořák's American Suite, op. 98 by Benjamin Pasternack, and a discussion with Pasternack, PostClassical Ensemble’s Angel Gil-Ordóñez and Joseph Horowitz, and UMD School of Music Assistant Professor of Musicology Dr. Patrick Warfield.

PostClassical Ensemble, which  most recently appeared at the Center in The Gershwin Project (2010-2011), is now in its ninth season. Their concerts regularly incorporate popular music, folk music, vernacular music and more, combining the music itself with insights into the people and the times that produced it. Artistic Director Joseph Horowitz has done extensive research into Dvořák and his body of work, resulting in a book, an educational project about America in Dvořák’s time and this program. Read writings by Professor Horowitz, listen to recordings by conductor Angel Gil-Ordóñez and performer Kevin Deas, and learn more about Dvořák and his works in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library:

• Recordings and scores of Dvořák's Serenade for Strings, op. 22

• Recordings and scores of the orchestral version of the American Suite in A major, op. 98b

• Books and essays by Joseph Horowitz

• Recordings and films featuring Angel Gil-Ordóñez

• Recordings featuring Kevin Deas

• Biographies and writings on the life and work of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

• Biographies and writings on the music of composer Antonin Dvořák, including a biography by the composer's son, Otakar Dvořák.

Streaming Audio:

Listen to streaming audio of Dvořák's op. 98 through Naxos Music Library and Alexander Street Press's Classical Music Library.