We open the concert with living American composer John Adams’ suave and extraordinary Chairman Dances: Foxtrot for Orchestra, written in 1985. The piece is approximately 13 minutes long.

We then hear American composer Leonard Bernstein’s exhilarating Symphonic Dances from his score for the musical West Side Story provide the thrilling center of this program. This piece combines songs from the Broadway musical and is approximately 23 minutes long.

While the funeral march from Beethoven’s 7th symphony contains one of the most monumental moments in music, it is the lighter, joyful moments in the symphony that prompted Wagner to declare this work “The Apotheosis of the Dance.” The symphony has four movements and is approximately 40 minutes long.

PROGRAM

Adams - The Chairman Dances: Foxtrot for Orchestra (Listen)

Bernstein - West Side Story: Symphonic Dances (Listen)

--- Intermission ---

Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 (Listen) 
I. Poco sostenuto – Vivace (A major)
II. Allegretto (A minor)
III. Presto – Assai meno presto (trio) (F major) (Trio in D major)
IV. Allegro con brio (A major)