‘Symphony Pride’ hails gay composers
Late last December, the San Francisco Symphony did something remarkable: It cancelled two planned concerts in North Carolina.
The decision to cancel the concerts, scheduled for April 5 and 6 as part of the Symphony’s upcoming East Coast tour, was in response to North Carolina’s House Bill 2 (HB2), a piece of discriminatory legislation that overturned protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. The Symphony’s cancellation was heralded by civil rights advocates around the country. The Symphony will continue with the rest of the tour, which includes concerts at New York’s Carnegie Hall April 7-8. Before that, though, music director Michael Tilson Thomas and the orchestra are presenting a special home concert – one that affirms the Symphony’s stance for the principles of inclusion, and expresses its support for those working for equality.
“Symphony Pride,” April 4 at Davies Symphony Hall, will feature Tilson Thomas and Broadway star Audra McDonald in a program featuring composers and artists from the gay community. Works by composers Lou Harrison, Henry Cowell, Meredith Monk and John Cage are included. McDonald will join the orchestra in selections from musical theater hits by Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Kander and Ebb and Jule Styne and serve as narrator in Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.” The program will conclude with the Finale from Mahler’s First Symphony – one of the pieces the Symphony will play at Carnegie Hall.
“Symphony Pride” is an appropriate response to North Carolina’s HB2, but in recent remarks, Tilson Thomas said the concert is about more than one ruling.
“This special evening honors the essential contributions that LGBTQ composers have made in shaping the American musical sound,” he noted. “One of music’s greatest roles is to bring people together.
“I am proud to join with the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony and my dear friend Audra McDonald in presenting an evening that celebrates and honors the spirit of our community. This concert also offers me the opportunity to express my appreciation for the generous welcome extended to me and my husband Joshua Robison since our arrival here over 20 years ago.”
Robison and California State Senator Mark Leno are the event chairs for “Symphony Pride,” and proceeds for the concert will benefit Larkin Street Youth Services, the Transgender Law Center, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the Trevor Project.
Details: Symphony Pride, 8 p.m. April 4, Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; $25-$50; 415-864-6000; www.sfsymphony.org.
HONORING HARRISON:
Speaking of Lou Harrison, the late California composer is being widely celebrated this year, with concerts marking the 100th anniversary of his birth continuing into 2017’s fall season. Harrison fans won’t want to miss the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players’ weekend-long “Lou Harrison: A Centenary Celebration” April 21-22 at Z Space in San Francisco; the event will include film, talks, performances of Harrison’s music and a selection of new works from three winners of SFCMP’s SF Search competition. Highlights include Eva Soltes’ documentary, “Lou Harrison: A World of Music” and “Knowing Lou,” a conversation moderated by Steven Schick, with musicians David Tanenbaum, William Winant and Karen Gottlieb. Tickets are $10 for the film, $25 per concert, $60 for weekend passes; details at www. sfcmp.org. Meanwhile, pianist Sarah Cahill has embarked on a nationwide tour featuring Harrison’s music. The tour, which includes stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Hawaii, started last week with a performance at San Francisco’s Presidio Sessions. Cahill brings the tour back home April 6 at the Center for New Music in San Francisco, May 10 at the Berkeley Art Museum and May 14 at New Music Works in Santa Cruz. www. sarahcahill.com.
BACK TO BACH: American Bach Soloists returns to the music of its namesake this weekend with “Bach’s Motets for Double Chorus,” featuring the American Bach Choir. Jeffrey Thomas conducts the program, which includes the glorious “Jauchzet dem Herrn alle Welt” and “Komm, Jesu, komm.” Details: 8 p.m. March 31, St. Stephen’s Church, Belvedere; April 1, First Presbyterian Church, Berkeley; and 4 p.m., St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Berkeley; $33-$85; 415-621-7900; www.americanbach.org.