American Serenade

With May’s American Serenade, we salute modern American concerti, showcasing as soloists the world-class musicians of our Resonance Chamber Orchestra.  Each piece on the program is distinctly American, highlighting some of the finest composers of the last 75 years.

The centerpiece of the program is Bernstein’s Serenade, performed by Resonance Works concertmaster Sandro Leal-Santiesteban.  Considered by many to be the finest piece of music Bernstein ever wrote, Serenade is said to have resulted from a reading of Plato’s Symposium, the dialogue concerned with the nature and purpose of love.  Clarinetist Ryan Leonard performs Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, which was originally composed for Benny Goodman. Flutist Lindsey Goodman performs a world-premiere flute concerto by Pittsburgh composer Nancy Galbraith.  Rounding out the program are the blues-inspired Soul Garden by Derek Bermel and Joan Tower’s iconic Petroushkates which she describes as a “carnival on ice.” Conductors Maria Sensi Sellner and Daniel Nesta Curtis share the podium for this season finale.