World Premiere of my second quintet for saxophone and string quartet!

Xian Zhang, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone*

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Ballade for Orchestra Op. 33

Billy Childs: Saxophone Concerto** (NSO CO-COMMISSION)

Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”

Experience the sweeping drama of Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony, inspired by African American and indigenous music the composer encountered during his time in America. It has remained one of the most popular symphonies of all time, even heard in space during Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 lunar spaceflight—a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy.

2023 Grammy®–winning conductor Xian Zhang opens the concert Ballade for Orchestra by African British-American Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Billy Childs’ Saxophone Concerto, co-commissioned by the NSO for Steven Banks.

*NSO subscription debut

**First performance by the NSO

Xian Zhang, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone*

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Ballade for Orchestra Op. 33

Billy Childs: Saxophone Concerto** (NSO CO-COMMISSION)

Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”

Experience the sweeping drama of Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony, inspired by African American and indigenous music the composer encountered during his time in America. It has remained one of the most popular symphonies of all time, even heard in space during Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 lunar spaceflight—a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy.

2023 Grammy®–winning conductor Xian Zhang opens the concert Ballade for Orchestra by African British-American Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Billy Childs’ Saxophone Concerto, co-commissioned by the NSO for Steven Banks.

*NSO subscription debut

**First performance by the NSO

Xian Zhang, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone*

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Ballade for Orchestra Op. 33

Billy Childs: Saxophone Concerto** (NSO CO-COMMISSION)

Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”

Experience the sweeping drama of Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony, inspired by African American and indigenous music the composer encountered during his time in America. It has remained one of the most popular symphonies of all time, even heard in space during Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 lunar spaceflight—a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy.

2023 Grammy®–winning conductor Xian Zhang opens the concert Ballade for Orchestra by African British-American Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Billy Childs’ Saxophone Concerto, co-commissioned by the NSO for Steven Banks.

*NSO subscription debut

**First performance by the NSO

Demetrius Fuller, conductor

Na’zir McFadden, conductor

BILLY CHILDS

Saxophone Concerto (Co-Commission)

SHELLEY WASHINGTON

New Work (Co-Commission)

Na’zir McFadden, conductor

BILLY CHILDS

Saxophone Concerto (Co-Commission)

SHELLEY WASHINGTON

New Work (Co-Commission)

Xak Bjerken, piano

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS

Oboe Sonata in D Major, Op. 166

I. Andantino

II. Ad libitum – Allegretto – Ad libitum

III. Molto allegro

ROBERT SCHUMANN

Fantasiestücke, Op. 73

I. Zart und mit Ausdruck

II. Lebhaft, leicht

III. Rasch und mit Feuer

PAUL CRESTON

Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 19

I. With vigor

II. With tranquility

III. With gaiety

MAURICE RAVEL

Ma Mère l’Oye

I. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant. Lent

II. Petit Poucet. Très modéré

III. Laideronnette, Impératrice des pagodes. Mouvement de marche

IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête. Mouvement de valse modéré

V. Le jardin féerique. Lent et grave

STEVEN BANKS

Come As You Are

I. Lift My Eyes

II. Times of the Storm

III. Strength of My Life

IV. Lift My Hands

Xak Bjerken, piano

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS

Oboe Sonata in D Major, Op. 166

I. Andantino

II. Ad libitum – Allegretto – Ad libitum

III. Molto allegro

ROBERT SCHUMANN

Fantasiestücke, Op. 73

I. Zart und mit Ausdruck

II. Lebhaft, leicht

III. Rasch und mit Feuer

PAUL CRESTON

Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 19

I. With vigor

II. With tranquility

III. With gaiety

MAURICE RAVEL

Ma Mère l’Oye

I. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant. Lent

II. Petit Poucet. Très modéré

III. Laideronnette, Impératrice des pagodes. Mouvement de marche

IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête. Mouvement de valse modéré

V. Le jardin féerique. Lent et grave

STEVEN BANKS

Come As You Are

I. Lift My Eyes

II. Times of the Storm

III. Strength of My Life

IV. Lift My Hands

Ruth Reinhardt, conductor

SMETANA

Šárka, from Má vlast (My Homeland)

CHILDS

Saxophone Concerto

PROKOFIEV

Romeo and Juliet Suite

Ruth Reinhardt, conductor

SMETANA

Šárka, from Má vlast (My Homeland)

CHILDS

Saxophone Concerto

PROKOFIEV

Romeo and Juliet Suite

Rossen Milanov, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone

The Worship and Praise Chorale

Program

Stravinsky: The Firebird, Suite (1919)

Tomasi: Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra

Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony

Selection of Spirituals for Choir and Orchestra

Rossen Milanov, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone

The Worship and Praise Chorale

Program

Stravinsky: The Firebird, Suite (1919)

Tomasi: Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra

Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony

Selection of Spirituals for Choir and Orchestra

Guillermo Lago: “Ciudades”

Joel Love: “In Memoriam”

Jennifer Higdon: “Short Stories”

Johann Sebastian Bach: Italian Concerto

Béla Bartók: Six Bulgarian Dances

Conductor Emeritus Peter Oundjian leads Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony, with its fatalistic, dream-like undertones and spirited Russian rhythms, and, as a rare treat, the charismatic Steven Banks takes on the Jazz-influenced Saxophone Concerto of John Adams.

Peter Oundjian, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone

Katerina Gimon: New Work by NextGen Composer (World Première/TSO Commission)

John Adams: Saxophone Concerto (Canadian Première)

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3

Conductor Emeritus Peter Oundjian leads Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony, with its fatalistic, dream-like undertones and spirited Russian rhythms, and, as a rare treat, the charismatic Steven Banks takes on the Jazz-influenced Saxophone Concerto of John Adams.

Peter Oundjian, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone

Katerina Gimon: New Work by NextGen Composer (World Première/TSO Commission)

John Adams: Saxophone Concerto (Canadian Première)

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3

Conductor Emeritus Peter Oundjian leads Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony, with its fatalistic, dream-like undertones and spirited Russian rhythms, and, as a rare treat, the charismatic Steven Banks takes on the Jazz-influenced Saxophone Concerto of John Adams.

Peter Oundjian, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone

Katerina Gimon: New Work by NextGen Composer (World Première/TSO Commission)

John Adams: Saxophone Concerto (Canadian Première)

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3

Earl Lee, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone

FRANCK Le Chasseur maudit

TOMASI Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

Earl Lee, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone

FRANCK Le Chasseur maudit

TOMASI Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

Banks: Come As You Are (arr. Dundee) for tenor saxophone and chamber orchestra

Rafael Payare, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone

Liv Redpath, soprano

Texu KIM: Zzan!!

MOZART: Exsultate jubilate, K. 165 (158a)

Billy CHILDS: Saxophone Concerto (West Coast Premiere, SDS Co-commission)

Juan COLOMER: A Casual Walk to Extinction (World Premiere)

R. STRAUSS: Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spake Zarathustra), Op. 30

Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 8:00 PM

Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor

Steven Banks, saxophone

Molly Turner, conductor

Program

Barber : Symphony No. 1

Childs : Saxophone Concerto

López : Fiesta!

Bernstein : Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Xak Bjerken, piano

Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 - Robert Schumann

I. Zart und mit Ausdruck

II. Lebhaft, leicht

III. Rasch und mit Feuer

Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, op. 19 - Paul Creston

I. With Vigor

II. With Tranquility

III. With Gaiety

Intermission

Ma Mère l'Oye - Maurice Ravel 17’

I. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant. Lent

II. Petit Poucet. Très modéré

III. Laideronnette, Impératrice des pagodes. Mouvement de marche

IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête. Mouvement de valse modéré

V. Le jardin féerique. Lent et grave

Come As You Are - Steven Banks

I. Lift My Eyes

II. Times of the Storm

III. Strength of My Life

IV. Lift My Hands

Xak Bjerken, piano

Oboe Sonata in D Major, op. 166 - Camille Saint-Saens

I. Andantino

II. Ad libitum; Allegretto

III. Molto Allegretto

Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 - Robert Schumann

I. Zart und mit Ausdruck

II. Lebhaft, leicht

III. Rasch und mit Feuer

Ma Mère l'Oye - Maurice Ravel 17’

I. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant. Lent

II. Petit Poucet. Très modéré

III. Laideronnette, Impératrice des pagodes. Mouvement de marche

IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête. Mouvement de valse modéré

V. Le jardin féerique. Lent et grave

Come As You Are - Steven Banks

I. Lift My Eyes

II. Times of the Storm

III. Strength of My Life

IV. Lift My Hands

Xak Bjerken, piano

Oboe Sonata in D Major, op. 166 - Camille Saint-Saens

I. Andantino

II. Ad libitum; Allegretto

III. Molto Allegretto

Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 - Robert Schumann

I. Zart und mit Ausdruck

II. Lebhaft, leicht

III. Rasch und mit Feuer

Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, op. 19 - Paul Creston

I. With Vigor

II. With Tranquility

III. With Gaiety

Intermission

Ma Mère l'Oye - Maurice Ravel

I. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant. Lent

II. Petit Poucet. Très modéré

III. Laideronnette, Impératrice des pagodes. Mouvement de marche

IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête. Mouvement de valse modéré

V. Le jardin féerique. Lent et grave

Come As You Are - Steven Banks

I. Lift My Eyes

II. Times of the Storm

III. Strength of My Life

IV. Lift My Hands