ASO The New World Symphony

Seems the Chicago Symphony have been hiring researchers to investigate the backgrounds to the writing of famous classical pieces Dvorak’s New World Symphony being a case in point. With a huge screen obscuring the majority of the orchestra Edison Movies made in the 1890ies were projected while actors presented the story of Dvorak’s arrival in New York to teach and the subsequent composing of the symphony in question. The orchestra played excerpts from Dvorak and other composers to illustrate the background that informs this work. During the second half minus the screen an un-interrupted performance of the entire work was given. A ragged entrance to the third movement proves the importance of watching the conductor. The orchestra paid closer attention in performing the excerpts in the first half. I was pleasantly surprised when Maestro Peter Bey arrived in person for the pre-concert talk and gave us a detailed introduction to the Orchestra’s forthcoming One Century Anniversary Celebration. A cello used in the first performance is featured on this year’s brochures. Beginning as more a chamber group it performed in various venues including an arena where cattle droppings were a prominent feature on concert nights.