Fri. Nov. 3, 2023 11:30a.m.

Gustavo Gimeno conducting and Camille Thomas holding a cello

Concert Hall

Program

Gustavo Gimeno, conductor
Camille Thomas, cello*
National Symphony Orchestra

Tania León
(b. 1943)
Pasajes (12’)
  • (NSO Co-Commission with New Music USA's Amplifying Voices)
Edward Elgar
(1857–1934)
Concerto in E minor for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 85 (30’)
  • i. Adagio; Moderato
  • ii. Lento; Allegro molto
  • iii. Adagio
  • iv. Allegro; Moderato; Allegro, ma non troppo
    • Camille Thomas, cello

Intermission

Johannes Brahms
(1833–1897)
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 (39’)
  • i. Allegro non troppo
  • ii. Andante moderato
  • iii. Allegro giocoso
  • iv. Allegro energico e passionato

*NSO subscription debut

Amplifying Voices is a New Music USA initiative which is powered by the Sphinx Ventures Fund, with additional support from ASCAP and the Sorel Organization

Patrons are requested to silence cell phones and other electronic devices during performances.

The taking of photographs and the use of recording equipment are not allowed in this venue.

Sponsors

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Endowed Support for this week's concerts:

The Arnold and Marie Schwartz Concerts

The Volunteer Council for the National Symphony Orchestra Concerts

Flowers in loving memory of Bessie Huidekoper Fay

Terms and Conditions

All events and artists subject to change without prior notice.

Meet the Artists

Meet the National Symphony Orchestra

Gianandrea Noseda, Music Director, The Roger Sant and Congresswoman Doris Matsui Chair

Steven Reineke, Principal Pops Conductor

The National Symphony Orchestra uses a system of revolving strings. In each string section, untitled members are listed in order of length of service.

* Regularly Engaged Extra Musician
** Temporary Position
*** Leave of Absence

Program Notes

© 2023 Peter Laki

Tania León: Pasajes

Tania León, who celebrated her 80th birthday this year, enjoys a brilliant international career as a composer, conductor, educator, and pianist. She has successfully integrated her Cuban heritage with a multitude of North American and European influences, making her one of the most fascinating composer personalities on the contemporary scene. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 2021 and named a recipient of the 45th Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievements—two tributes that recognize her extraordinary accomplishments.

Edward Elgar: Concerto in E minor for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 85

In many Romantic concertos, the soloist is cast as a hero who accomplishes dazzling feats, surrounded by a group of supporting characters who reinforce and complement the hero’s efforts. Elgar, who belonged to the last generation of Romantic composers, wrote his Cello Concerto at a time when the heroic optimism of the earlier Romantics was harder and harder to hold on to. World War I had brought death and suffering on an unprecedented scale; in addition, Western composition was changing, moving resolutely in new directions. Elgar’s Cello Concerto, written in 1919, is usually understood as a nostalgic farewell to a world that was becoming history. It also turned out to be the last major work the English master ever wrote. The year after the premiere, in 1920, he lost his beloved wife of 30 years; after her passing, he made sketches for a Third Symphony but never had the strength to complete it.

Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

‟It’s hard to put into words all the magnificent things this work contains, you can only listen to it over and over again with reverence and admiration.” Thus did a 21-year-old Richard Strauss sum up what generations of listeners have felt about the Brahms Fourth ever since its premiere 138 years ago (which Strauss had helped prepare as the assistant of conductor Hans von Bülow). The symphony begins gently like a boat floating on the water, and ends with a dramatic blaze of sound, triumphant but at the same time dark and ominous. In between, we hear innumerable shades of emotion in the course of a veritable musical journey through four contrasting movements that beautifully complement one another.

Staff

The Trump Kennedy Center Executive Leadership

Executive DirectorMatt Floca

Chief Financial OfficerDonna Arduin

Acting General CounselElliot Berke

Vice President of Human Resources LaTa’sha M. Bowens

Senior Vice President, MarketingRobin Osborne

Vice President, Public RelationsRoma Daravi

Vice President, EducationJordan LaSalle

Vice President, ProductionGlenn Turner

Interim Chief Information Officer Bob Sellappan

Staff for the Concert Hall

Director of ProductionKate Roberts

Master TechnicianZach Boutilier*

Master TechnicianMichael Buchman *

Head UsherCathy Crocker*

Treasurer, Box OfficeDeborah Glover*

Master TechnicianPaul Johannes*

Master TechnicianApril King*

Theater ManagerAllen V. McCallum Jr.*

Master TechnicianJohn Ottaviano*

Master TechnicianArielle Qorb*

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*Represented by ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers.

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The box office at the Kennedy Center is represented by I.A.T.S.E, Local #868.

Steinway Piano Gallery is the exclusive area representative of Steinway & Sons and Boston pianos, the official pianos of the Kennedy Center.

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The technicians at the Kennedy Center are represented by Local #22, Local #772,  and Local #798 I.A.T.S.E., AFL-CIO-CLC, the professional union of theatrical technicians.

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National Symphony Orchestra musicians are represented by the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Federation of Musicians, AFM Local 161-710.

 

Program

Gustavo Gimeno, conductor
Camille Thomas, cello*
National Symphony Orchestra

Tania León
(b. 1943)
Pasajes (12’)
  • (NSO Co-Commission with New Music USA's Amplifying Voices)
Edward Elgar
(1857–1934)
Concerto in E minor for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 85 (30’)
  • i. Adagio; Moderato
  • ii. Lento; Allegro molto
  • iii. Adagio
  • iv. Allegro; Moderato; Allegro, ma non troppo
    • Camille Thomas, cello

Intermission

Johannes Brahms
(1833–1897)
Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 (39’)
  • i. Allegro non troppo
  • ii. Andante moderato
  • iii. Allegro giocoso
  • iv. Allegro energico e passionato

*NSO subscription debut

Amplifying Voices is a New Music USA initiative which is powered by the Sphinx Ventures Fund, with additional support from ASCAP and the Sorel Organization

Thank you for supporting the Kennedy Center’s efforts to reduce paper. For a full program, scan this QR code. We also ask that you please silence your cell phones and other electronic devices. Thank you!