Colorado Symphony: Recent Episodes
Colorado Symphony
One of the leading orchestras in the United States, your Colorado Symphony performs more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver and across Colorado. The Colorado Symphony is home to eighty full-time musicians, representing more than a dozen nations, and regularly welcomes the most celebrated artists from the world of symphonic music and beyond. Every season, we serve more than 300,000 people from all walks of life, performing a range of musical styles, from traditional to contemporary. Recognized as an incubator of innovation, creativity, and excellence, your Colorado Symphony continually expands its reach through education, outreach, and programming. We continually partner with the state's leading musical artists, cultural organizations, corporations, foundations, sports teams, and individuals, to expose diverse audiences to the transformative power of music.
In May, the Colorado Symphony’s regular season closes with one of the most loved pieces of American music, Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin. The orchestra, chorus, and four world-class soloists will transport the audience to Catfish Row May 16-18 at Boettcher Concert Hall. Music Director Andrew Litton will conduct his own arrangement of Porgy and Bess. It’s the latest in a series of tributes Litton has made to Gershwin over the course of his career. In this conversation with Anthony Pierce, Vice President of Artistic Administration, Andrew talks about the joy of Porgy and the genius of Gershwin.
With apologies to Shakespeare, if music is the food of love, the Colorado Symphony plays on. The orchestra boasts several married couples, musicians who share their lives both inside and outside of Boettcher Concert Hall. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, and in preparation for this weekend’s Love & Lust Masterworks program, we spoke with two musicians who met, fell in love and married, all while holding chairs in the Colorado Symphony: Michael Thornton, Principal Horn, and Julie Thornton, Flute and Piccolo share a bit about what it’s like to work and play together, season after season.
Don’t miss Love & Lust February 14-15, featuring Midori’s performance of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor; the second half brings high drama with Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, an orchestral passion, which tells the story of two of history’s great lovers.
If you’ve visited the Colorado Symphony this season, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Joseph Young on the podium. Whether conducting Halloween Spooktacular, the El Latir de Mexico community celebration or the annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Young has made an impression on audiences – and the musicians of the orchestra, who appreciate his energetic, thoughtful style. The Symphony’s Robert Warner spoke with Young, who conducts two programs for the Colorado Symphony this weekend – John, Paul, George & Ringo at the Paramount Theater on Friday night, and Dianne Reeves on Saturday night. Get to know this up-and-coming young Maestro as he shares thoughts on the Beatles, Marin Alsop and the importance of inspiring the next generation of conductors.
In this episode, we continue the conversation between resident conductor, Scott O'Neil, and composer Charles Denler. The two friends talk about theme and melody in compositions, writing music for film and dispel a few myths about how composers do their work. We start with Mr. O'Neil asking Mr. Denler about what he listens to.
In this episode, Colorado based composer Charles Denler and resident conductor Scott O'Neil discuss the making of An American Symphony No. 1, which explores Denler's ten movement, Colorado inspired symphony. Denler offers a preview this Friday, May 31 at Boettcher Concert Hall as part of the Inside the Score Series.
DeVotchKa leader Nick Urata realized a life-long musical dream when his band performed with the Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall last February. Since then, DeVotchKa has performed with the orchestra at Red Rocks Amphiteatre, released a critically acclaimed recording of the collaboration, and toured the country performing with small symphonic ensembles. In this episode, Urata talks with friend and former touring partner Amanda Palmer about the creative challenges and rewards of working with classically-based forms and musicians. DeVotchKa and Amanda Palmer perform with the Colorado Symphony on Friday, June 14 at Red Rocks Amphitheater; Denver favorite Paper Bird opens the show.
When the Rite of Spring debuted in Paris 100 years ago, it caused a sensation -- and a riot. Today, Stravinsky’s masterpiece still inspires passionate responses. In this conversation with Anthony Pierce, vice president of artistic administration for the Colorado Symphony, Andrew Litton discusses Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, which he conducts as part of the Masterworks series May 24-26.
Artistic Advisor Andrew Litton grew up close to the home where George Gershwin wrote some of his most famous music, including “Rhapsody in Blue.” In this episode of Soundings, Litton discusses his lifelong love of Gershwin, as well as a rare program of iconic works from the composer’s songbook. Litton conducts, and performs, Gershwin in a special program on Saturday, May 18.
As Music Director of the Colorado Symphony, Andrew Litton brings a lifetime of experience, insight and knowledge of classical music, from the greatest works by the canonical composers to the most brilliant soloists on the circuit. This September, he enters his second season as curator of Masterworks, an eclectic series with something for every taste.
In this conversation with Anthony Pierce, Colorado Symphony Vice President of Artistic Administration, Litton discusses some highlights of the Masterworks season to come. For a complete list of concerts, please visit www.coloradosymphony.org.