ROCO’s In Concert series continued February 26, at 5:00 pm Central with “Canvasing the Earth” at The Church of St. John the Divine and also livestreamed at ROCO.org, Facebook, YouTube, and A440.

Conductor Sarah Hicks led the orchestra in her ROCO debut, featuring three world premieres, including Earth by Aaron Jay Kernis, featuring tenor Nicholas Phan. Reflecting upon the fundamental environmental crisis of our time, and created in collaboration with poet and agricultural researcher Kai Hoffman-Krull, the work tells the story of a farmer’s life through vignettes exploring the incremental changes of the seasons and how those who depend upon the land must adapt.

Honoring survivors of human trafficking, Leanna Primiani’s Neither men nor money validate my worth also received its world premiere, accompanied by images from The New Abolitionists. Completing the program were the world premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff‘s fanfare Score, and Mussorgsky’s classic Pictures at an Exhibition in a special presentation, with accompanying images from the collections of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

PROGRAM:

Sarah Hicks, conductor
Nicholas Phan, tenor

Aaron Jay Kernis: Earth
I. Seasons
II. Farewell
ROCO Co-Commission with Santa Fe Pro Musica

Leanna Primiani: Neither men nor money validate my worth
ROCO Commissioned World Premiere

Jonathan Leshnoff: Score
ROCO Co-Commission with IRIS Orchestra

Modest Mussorgsky, arr. Jonathan Gout: Pictures at an Exhibition

Click here to see who performed on this concert.