My Program: Jolivet: Bassoon Concerto
Rouse: Trombone Concerto
Intermission
Bernstein: Three Meditations from “Mass” for Cello and Orchestra
Bartok: First Piano Concerto
Stucky: Second Concerto for Orchestra
The case for my program: A program of concertos with a slight emphasis on American music. The bassoon and trombone are both underrepresented solo instruments in concert programming despite having a number of significant pieces in the repertoire. The Jolivet is probably one of the best pieces in the bassoon repertoire and offers listeners the chance to hear something other than the Mozart concerto. Rouse has become a master of concerto writing. The trombone concerto won the Pulitzer prize and is dedicated to the memory of Leonard Bernstein.
Programing the Bernstein is a nice compliment to the Rouse and provides a concerto alternative to his Serenade for solo violin that is probably performed more often. The Bartok is simply my favorite piano concerto and unfortunately does not get programmed very frequently. Steven Stucky’s 2nd Concerto for Orchestra, like the Rouse, won the Pulitzer prize. A Concerto for Orchestra is a wonderful way to end a program of concertos and the Stucky provides an enjoyable alternative to the Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.
