The Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s next concert may be titled “Old American Songs,” but listeners will be treated to a performance with an international flair.
Venezuelan-born Spanish conductor José Luis Gomez leads the program, which features the talents of Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green, taking the stage April 2-3 at Elgin’s Hemmens Cultural Center.
“‘Old American Songs’ refers to the title of one of the main works that will be performed during this concert, which is the two sets of songs composed by the eminent composer Aaron Copland back in the 1950s,” Gomez said. “The rest of the concert is flavored with pieces that have a clear American flavor.”
Other pieces in the lineup include the overture for “School of Scandal” by American composer Samuel Barber and the symphony “From the New World” written by Czech composer Antonín Dvorák.
“This symphony has become a clear example of how folkloristic music from the United States has been incorporated and has inspired composers such as Dvorák,” Gomez said. “Clearly, American folklore, tradition and musical language is a common denominator of the whole program.”
Guest conductor Gomez began his musical career as a violinist, and he is now in his sixth season as the musical director of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He’s keeping busy this year, with a full schedule that includes time conducting in Belgium and with the Colorado Symphony and the Pacific Symphony orchestras in the United States.
The inclusion of Dvorák in the program highlights the influence of American music on international composers — and vice versa.
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“Antonín Dvorák lived in the United States between 1892 and 1895, and during that time he was asked to be the first director of the first National Conservatory of Music of the United States,” Gomez said. “Living here in America, he was fascinated about the richness of the musical folklore of the country, especially African-American spirituals and Native-American melodies and harmonies.”
In the case of “Old American Songs,” Gomez points out the richness and diversity of the American music tradition.
“Through the adaptations of these fantastic tunes, we get a chance to enjoy these characteristic and joyful traditional songs in a classical concert stage situation,” he said. “Songs like ‘Simple Gifts’ or ‘The Little Horses’ are adapted and translated to the orchestral sound but without losing their essence.”
Gomez is also excited to be working with Green, who has previously performed at the Metropolitan Opera, the Washington National Opera and Theatre an der Wien in Vienna. He’s also the author of the New York Times bestselling autobiography, “Sing for Your Life,” which was published in 2016 and details Green’s path from a juvenile detention facility in Virginia to the opera stage.
“He is already a very important and talented young and upcoming singer of the world stage, so having the opportunity to work with him is very exciting,” Gomez said. “His trajectory is remarkable, and his voice is full of richness of tone and depth. It will be a treat for all of us to share the stage with him in Elgin.”
Gomez hopes that this American-themed concert will introduce more people to the homegrown symphonies with which they may not be as familiar.
“I hope this example of American-flavored music will bring joy and uplifting feelings to all of our audience,” he said. “It is music that resonates beyond borders and that has so much richness in details but also in positive and inspiring feelings.
“It’s a beautiful heritage of this great country … It elevates the greatness of the diversity that American culture is full of.”
Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Old American Songs’ concert
When: 7:30 p.m. April 2 and 3 p.m. April 3
Where: Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin
Tickets: $10-$65
Information: 847-888-4000; elginsymphony.org
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Courier-News.