Great Performances at Mason
Sphinx Virtuosi
Sunday, Oct 17, 2021 3:00pm
Mason Artist-in-Residence
Tracing Visions
Welcome Mason Artist-in-Residence Sphinx Virtuosi, the chamber orchestra dedicated to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in classical music. Prepare to stretch beyond the usual notions of the classical music canon with a dynamic program of music by women and composers of color. The evening begins with Xavier Foley’s Ev’ry Voice, a take on the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” mirrored later in the program by Jessie Montgomery's vision of the national anthem, with all of its richness, conflict, and celebration in Banner! Andrea Casarrubios honors the heroes who have fought to save lives during the pandemic in her piece written for cello soloist Thomas Mesa in 2020. The program also features Four Novelletten, a beautifully crafted work by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor that infuses the modern string orchestra with romantic sentimentality. In addition, works by Ricardo Herz, Florence Price, and Alberto Ginastera are featured. With this program, Sphinx Virtuosi contemplates our country’s present division and through creative expression, offers ways to evolve together toward a more just and equitable future. During their residency, ensemble members will spend time participating in engagement activities with the greater northern Virginia community and Mason students.
$48, $41, $29, half-price for youth through Grade 12.
Run Time: This performance is 100 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
Program:
Xavier Foley: Ev'ry Voice
Florence Price: Andante Cantabile from String Quartet No. 2 in A minor
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Four Novelletten
I. Allegro moderato
III. Andante con moto
Jessie Montgomery: Banner!
Andrea Casarrubios: Seven
Ricardo Herz: Mourinho and Innocente
Alberto Ginastera: Concerto for Strings
IV. Finale furioso
To read an Q&A with Sphinx Virtuosi and learn more about their residency read this article.
A pre-performance discussion will take place in the Concert Hall one hour prior to curtain moderated by Assistant Director of Concert Bands, Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music John Kilkenny.
A limited quantity of free student tickets will be available two Tuesdays prior to the event. Learn more.
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
