We are thrilled to bring to life Giuseppe Verdi’s dramatic and romantic Overture to La Forza del Destino; followed by the extraordinary Symphony No. 1 by Florence Beatrice Price, the first female African-American to be recognized as a symphonic composer, and the first to have a composition played by a major orchestra. For the finale, acclaimed cellist Mark Kosower performs Antonín Dvořák’s magnificent Cello Concerto in B Minor, op.104.
The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo Figueroa, Principal Conductor
PROGRAM
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Overture to La Forza del Destino
FLORENCE PRICE
Symphony No. 1 in E Minor
Allegro ma non troppo
Largo, maestoso
Juba Dance
Finale
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK
Cello Concerto in B Minor, op.104
Allegro
Adagio, ma non troppo
Finale: Allegro moderato — Andante — Allegro vivo
Mark Kosower, Cello
Of Note
Verdi wrote a dark and dramatic overture, which he called Sinfonia in the score, in 1869 for the revised version of the opera La Forza del Destino.
Most of Florence Price’s 300 works, including symphonies, concertos and a large number of choral pieces remain unpublished, and while some of her works have been recorded, Price’s music is only now being discovered by audiences.
Among all cello concertos, Dvořák’s has been called “supreme, “the greatest” and the “king.” It has been recorded by nearly every well-known cellist, including Yo-Yo Ma, who recorded it three times; Mstislav Rostropovich, who made four recordings; Pablo Casals, Emanuel Feuermann and Jacqueline du Pré.
Mark Kosower, Cello
A modern player with a “signature sound” and distinctive style of playing, cellist Mark Kosower embodies the concept of the complete musician performing as concerto soloist with symphony orchestras.
Guillermo Figueroa, Principal Conductor
One of the most versatile and respected musical artists of his generation—renowned as conductor, violinist, violist and concertmaster—Guillermo Figueroa is the Principal Conductor of The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus. He also serves as the Music Director of the Music in the Mountains Festival in Colorado and Music Director of the Lynn Philharmonia in Florida, and is the founder of the highly acclaimed Figueroa Music and Arts Project in Albuquerque.
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Program Notes
Florence Price composed her Symphony No. 1 in E Minor in 1931-32 while recovering from a broken foot. That misfortune turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because it gave her time to work. To a friend she wrote: “I found it possible to snatch a few precious days in the month of January....…