Freedom then, and freedom now
USA and freedom. It’s almost as if they stand next to each other in the thesaurus. When Americans are asked which state has the best motto, New Hampshire always wins: “Live Free or Die.”
But can we take American composers as seriously as the “good old” European ones? Isn’t that a bit too Hollywood? Very alternative, right? If there is one thing American composers are free from, it’s the unwritten rules of the “Old Continent.” The concept of freedom has also influenced the music you will hear here.
Welcome to the USA’s first female symphony composer, the first afro-american female symphony composer, Pulitzer and Grammy winners, and the 20th century’s most famous composer. A liberatingly delightful mix of tradition and innovation. That is true freedom, and worth fighting for.
Friday, June 27
16:00– 17:15
Risør Church
Amy Beach – Three compositions opus 40
Eric Ewazen – Trio
Jennifer Higdon – Pianotrio
Florence Price – Elfentanz
John Williams – Air and simple gifts
Tine Thing Helseth – Trumpet
Mishka Rushdie Momen – Piano
Hyeyoon Park – Violin
Andreas Ottensamer – Clarinet
Gunnar Flagstad – Piano
Audun Sandvik – Cello
Ludvig Gudim – Violin