The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra presents
Masterworks II: Connections
Featuring works from contemporary and classical composers
Shostakovich Symphony No. 10, Adolphus Hailstork and Óscar Navarro
Maryland Hall, Annapolis, Maryland
November 1-2, 2024
(Annapolis, Maryland) The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra will bring works from one of the world’s greatest classical composers, Dmitri Shostakovich, to Maryland Hall in Annapolis on November 1st and 2nd, 2024. Composed during the oppressive regime of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin from 1950-1953, the piece reveals Shostakovich’s fear and loneliness. Artistic Director José-Luis Novo says “the second movement is four minutes of hair-raising symphonic music symbolizing the oppression of Stalin’s brutal regime that will keep you on the edge of your seat.” Despite the lament apparent in the music, the piece speaks to human connection, a theme brought to the Maryland Hall stage by Maestro Novo who is also the ASO Conductor.
Since the end of the 1970s, the most widely accepted interpretation of Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 is that it is a depiction of the Stalin years in Russia, when between eight and 20 million people died as a direct or indirect result of Joseph Stalin’s Communist dictator regime. Shostakovich personally experienced Stalin’s volatile rule: he was publicly denounced, his works proscribed, and his status reduced to that of a “non-person”. The demonizing and censorship experienced by Shostakovich during Stalin’s regime one hundred years ago until his death in 1954 has direct parallels to contemporary instances of the same destructive personal restrictions enforced by governments around the world even today.
Adolphus Hailstork’s Three Spirituals for Orchestra may seem very different from Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10; however, both pieces reveal men with a shared dream to live free of oppression, fear, or discrimination. Three Spirituals for Orchestra was composed in 2005 by Hailstork, an American composer of African American, Native American and European ancestry. His works are known for blending musical ideas from the African, American and European traditions. Hailstork received his music education at Howard University, Manhattan School of Music, and Michigan State University, and he currently resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is the Cultural Laureate of Virginia. Three Spirituals for Orchestra is structured by three movements, based on traditional spiritual songs, “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” “Kum Ba Yah,” and “Oh Freedom”.
Óscar Navarro’s Connection is conceived as a concerto in a single movement without pauses. The piece is divided into an introduction followed by four sections: March, Scherzando, Slow, and Grand Finale. Navarro said “The aim of this piece is to captivate the attention and create a direct connection with the listener, making the musical message reach the listener via the solo instrument, the horn. Mystery, anger, complicity, humor or passion are part of the main aesthetic ingredients used in this concerto, whose purpose is to immerse the listener in the work through a fusion of styles and a varied harmonic language.” ASO’s Principal Horn Alex Kovling will perform the horn solo for the premier of this work in Annapolis. “It is especially exciting to present the American première of Óscar Navarro’s French Horn Concerto, “Connection,” to our Annapolis audiences,” said Novo. “Navarro is a composer with a keen melodic gift and an extraordinary sense of pacing, blending vibrant orchestral color with masterful orchestration. His ability to connect with modern audiences makes this work not only a thrilling showcase for our Principal Horn Alex Kovling, but also an appealing experience for all who will hear it.”
Alex Kovling, Principal Horn of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra since 2020 and member of the orchestra since 2018, is a native of Lewisville, Texas. He joined the U.S. Navy Band in 2015. Alex also plays chamber music as a member of Barclay Brass and with his brass quintet, Apex Brass. He has enjoyed covering principal and soloing with the Navy Band and has performed alongside Mannheim Steamroller, Andrea Bocelli, The Beach Boys, and Katy Perry.
“With nerves of steel and an unshakable calm, our Principal Horn, Alex Kovling, approaches even the most daunting musical challenges with grace and confidence. Whether he’s delivering the breathtaking solos in Navarro’s “Connection” or tackling the devilishly demanding horn passages of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10—all during the same performance, he remains a model of professionalism and composure. His remarkable talent and gracious demeanor both on and off the stage make him a standout, not just as a musician, but as a person.” Maestro José Luis Novo
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s artistic and programmatic theme across their 63rd season as the largest and oldest performing arts organization in Anne Arundel County is to convey the universal and human need for connection. Maestro Novo’s dedication to presenting composers, guest artists, and compositions that cause the audience to think, feel, and act is vital to creating connections with each other and throughout our community. “Our Season 63 Masterworks series is an opportunity to commemorate the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” said Novo. “Sixty years beyond this critical legislation that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, we can commemorate the progress made, look at opportunities to be better, and look forward to even bolder steps we can make in the future.”
MUSIC PROGRAM
Adolphus Hailstork Three Spirituals
Óscar Navarro Connection: Horn Concerto, Alex Kovling, horn
Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93
The performances at Maryland Hall are preceded by a pre-concert lecture offered for free to all ticket holders. The lecture begins at 6:30 PM in the Maryland Hall auditorium and is hosted by Jonathan Palevsky, Program Director of WBJC Classical Radio. To learn more about the history of each piece presented in the repertoire, interested lovers of classical and contemporary music can visit the ASO website: AnnapolisSymphony.org/events.
The Season 63 Series of Masterworks is made possible by the Brian and Patricia Geise Foundation.
Tickets to the Maryland Hall performances are available online at AnnapolisSymphony.org or by calling the Box Office at 410-263-0907.
About the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director José-Luis Novo, comprises 70 professional musicians performing symphonic music for audiences of all ages. The mission of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is to inspire, educate, and enrich lives near and far by creating extraordinary musical experiences with uncompromising artistic excellence. As we celebrate our 63rd year in Annapolis, we are more intent than ever on making music matter. The non-profit organization provides educational programs through its partnerships with local schools and various other community outreach efforts. For more information about the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, visit the website annapolissymphony.org
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra offers subscription packages, both for in-person and virtual viewing, as well as tickets for single in-person programs. For more information or to purchase tickets or subscriptions, visit AnnapolisSymphony.org/subscribe or contact the Box Office at 410-263-0907.
Media Contact: Diana Love DLove@annapolissymphony.org 410-267-3631
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