Vividly portraying a soul’s journey through the inferno, into purgatory, and ascending finally to paradise—Richard Danielpour’s triptych Symphony in Three Movements After the Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri was featured across ROCO’s 19th season, premiered across concerts spanning from November 2023 to April 2024. As part of Danielpour’s season residency, the first and third movements were commissioned by ROCO to complete the symphony, joining the previously written second movement, which received its U.S. premiere.

Richard Danielpour, Symphony in Three Movements After the Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri

I. Nell’ Inferno
Johannes Debus, conductor
ROCO World Premiere Commission
Premiered Nov. 11, 2023, The Church of St. John the Divine, Houston, Texas

II. Voci Dal Purgatorio
Delyana Lazarova, conductor
U.S. Premiere
Premiered Feb. 24, 2024, The Church of St. John the Divine, Houston, Texas

III. Alle Soglie Del Paradiso
JoAnn Falletta, conductor
ROCO World Premiere Commission
Premiered Apr. 27, 2024, Brockman Hall for Opera, Rice University, Houston, Texas