March 22, 2012

Dennis Russell Davies returns to the CSO for Philip Glass

Philip Glass Cello Concerto No. 2, “Naquoyqatsi,” to be given its world premiere next weekend by cellist Matt Haimovitz with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, will be recorded live for Orange Mountain Music.

The record company Orange Mountain Music was created for fans and scholars interested in the music of Glass. The recording will be released at a date to be announced.

The premiere is one of the many events internationally that have been marking the 75th birthday year of the composer. He will be in town for those performances, as well as for MusicNOW, a three-day festival that will also feature several of his compositions next Thursday.

The cello concerto is based on Glass’ award-winning score to the Godfrey Reggio film, “Naqoyqatsi, part of the Qatsi Trilogy. In the score, Glass wrote a prominent part for cello, which was performed by Yo-Yo Ma.

Prominent Toledo-born conductor Dennis Russell Davies, a longtime friend and frequent Glass collaborator, will conduct the premiere. Watch for a Q&A with him in Sunday’s A&E section of the Enquirer.

Concerts are March 30-31 in Music Hall. Prior to the concerts, Glass will speak in Classical Conversations, free to all ticket holders.

In the MusicNOW concert at Memorial Hall on March 29, Glass will perform one of his early compositions with the sextet eighth blackbird. (Watch for a story in Sunday’s A&E section.)

There’s more: Tomorrow night, the CSO Chamber Players perform the Glass String Quartet No. 5, 7:30 p.m. in the Erich Kunzel Center for Arts and Education, SCPA.

On the air: PBS affiliate CET will air several programs about Philip Glass. “American Masters “Glass: a Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts” airs at 9 p.m. this Friday with foloow up dates on 48.1 and CET Arts 48.3.

Also, you can see Glass’ opera “Satyagraha” on Great Performances at the Met, this Sunday. Check for times and updates at cincinnatisymphony.org/glass.

by Janelle Gelfand

View article at Cincinnati.com