The latest American Music Festival by the Albany Symphony Orchestra showcased another ambitious lineup of events, featuring diverse styles, genres, and disciplines. The festival culminated with a striking new orchestral work titled “Survival,” by Adolphus Hailstork, that comprises five interconnected movements that blend poignant and dramatic flows into a rich spectrum of colors, sentiments, and details. Led by David Alan Miller, the performance underscored the composer’s musical depth and consummate craftsmanship, firmly establishing Hailstork, an Albany native, as one of America’s foremost symphonists.
This year’s festival, dubbed “Convergence,” marked the culmination of the orchestra’s three-year exploration and celebration of Black American culture, an endeavor that will undoubtedly continue. Hailstork’s symphony explores the themes of race and struggle, with movement titles such as “Still crossing that bridge,” while the central section pays tribute to the nine lives lost at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in 2015.
The festival’s world premiere of “Forgiveness,” a spoken word concerto with text written and read by Marc Bamuthi Joseph and music by Daniel Bernard Roumain, offered a more detailed and personal perspective. Joseph drew on his Christian faith, family memories, and current politics, engaging the audience with a good-natured and captivating manner. Over 40 minutes, Roumain’s score grew in substance and presence, creating a genuine dialogue that pondered the question, “Is forgiveness a human right?” The piece received a sustained ovation.
Jazz violinist Regina Carter’s performance was a highlight of the festival. In two selections from David Schiff’s concerto, “Four Sisters,” which honors iconic jazz divas, Carter’s improvisation and melodies took the audience on an unexpected journey. Carter teamed up with ASO associate principal bassist Philip Helm in “Satin” (Billie Holiday), delivering a more impulsive sound, and performed a charming encore, Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday.”
In conclusion, the Albany Symphony Orchestra’s latest American Music Festival was an extraordinary showcase of artistic talents, diverse cultures, and musical excellence that richly deserves recognition as among the best symphonic events in America today.
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