Dvořák’s “New World” Program Notes

Program Notes

Dvořák’s “New World” Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2025. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.    Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout Virtual World Premiere June 6, 2020; Philadelphia Orchestra 6 Minutes    Valerie Coleman is equally well known as performing flutist and composer. She did … Read More

Beethoven & Rachmaninoff Program Notes

Program Notes

Beethoven & Rachmaninoff Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.  Guillaume Connesson’s Flammenschrift (Flame Writing)  World Premiere November 8, 2012; Paris, France 10 Minutes    Guillaume Connesson is fascinated with cosmic phenomena.  Disco, funk and minimalism play a role in … Read More

Gershwin & Tchaikovsky Program Notes

Program Notes

Gershwin & Tchaikovsky Program Notes    Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Carlos Simon’s Motherboxx Connection  World Premiere January 26, 2022; Ann Arbor, Michigan 6 minutes   Black heritage and identity are central to Carlos Simon’s music. His film scores draw on … Read More

Alexei Plays Dvořák Program Notes  

Program Notes

Alexei Plays Dvořák Program Notes    Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Angel Lam’s Please let there be a paradise… (Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Consortium Partner)  World Premiere April 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri  9 Minutes   “Please let there be a … Read More

Rodrigo and Ravel’s Boléro Program Notes 

Program Notes

Rodrigo and Ravel’s Boléro Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Maurice Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso  World Premiere May 17, 1919; Paris, France  8 Minutes   Maurice Ravel is usually called an impressionist, but he was really a classicist. He … Read More

Sibelius’ Violin and Elgar’s Enigma Program Notes  

Program Notes

Sibelius’ Violin and Elgar’s Enigma Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Benjamin Britten’s Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell (Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra)   World Premiere October 15, 1946; Liverpool, England  18 Minutes     Benjamin Britten … Read More

Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto Program Notes

Program Notes

Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Brittany J. Green’s TESTIFY! (Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program World Premiere)     World Premiere September 27, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida  8 Minutes  “Many of my earliest musical memories are … Read More

Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” Program Notes

Program Notes

Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” Program Notes   Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited.   Symphony No. 2 in C minor, “Resurrection”  World Premiere December 13, 1895; Berlin, Germany  90 minutes   Gustav Mahler was one of the great post-Romantic symphonists. He wrote … Read More

Program Notes: Symphonie Fantastique

Program Notes

Program Notes: Symphonie Fantastique Thomas Adès’ The Exterminating Angel Symphony World Premiere July 28, 2016; Salzburg, Austria (20 Minutes) The son of an art historian and a poet, Thomas Adès is a native of London. He studied at London’s Guildhall School of Music and King’s College Cambridge. Adès achieved success early, having a retrospective of his music when he was … Read More

Program Notes: Adelya Plays The Lark Ascending

Program Notes

Program Notes: Adelya Plays The Lark Ascending   Edward Elgar’s In the South  World Premiere March 16, 1904; London, England (20 minutes)  In the early 20th century, Edward Elgar was England’s most significant musical figure. His best-known works are the Pomp and Circumstance marches and the Enigma Variations. Elgar did not achieve widespread success until his 40s. Edward Elgar composed In … Read More