Bold musical expression, inspired by the human experience, took center stage in “OUTSPOKEN” on November 2nd, at The Church of St. John the Divine. GRAMMY-winning conductor JoAnn Falletta, led the full 40-piece chamber orchestra in the world premieres of Jonathan Leshnoff‘s No Grit No Pearl, a ROCO-commissioned work celebrating resilience, and Juan Pablo Contreras‘ vibrant Alma Monarca, another world premiere commissioned by ROCO—honoring his family and the tradition of Día de los Muertos.
Violinists Scott St. John and Brian Lewis feature in John Novacek‘s spirited showpiece, Three Rags for two violins and orchestra followed by Franz Schubert’s Death and the Maiden, reimagined by Andy Stein as Symphony in D Minor, ushering the journey into a realm beyond.