Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen, a study for 23 solo strings
Aaron Copland: Clarinet Concerto (Romie de Guise-Langlois, clarinet)
Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5, op. 107, “Reformation”
 
Near the end of World War II, Richard Strauss was moved to compose Metamorphosen, his intensely personal lament for the devolution of German culture during the Nazi regime. This work, which serves as the inspiration for this summer’s theme, features 23 string players each playing a unique part. Rounding out the program are American composer Copland's jazz-influenced Clarinet Concerto, originally composed for Benny Goodman, and Mendelssohn's fifth symphony, which was written to honor the 300th anniversary of the Protestant reformation.
 
Sponsored by Lucia Cleveland and Paul Vanderheyden.