FROM THE NEW WORLD
BOULDER PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
MICHAEL BUTTERMAN, conductor
Tessa Lark, violin
LIAS
Wind, Water, Sand | World Premiere
TORKE
Sky: Violin Concerto
Overview
Tessa Lark, a brilliant classical artist from Kentucky with bluegrass roots, brings a unique blend of styles to our program. Michael Torke’s “Sky,” written for Lark and nominated for both a Grammy and Pulitzer, merges Copland-like Americana with Appalachian fiddle music. The program also features works inspired by the beauty of American landscapes, including Stephen Lias’s “Wind, Water, Sand,” which draws from his experiences as composer-in-residence at a dozen US National Parks, including Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. This concert marks the world premiere of Lias’s piece. Additionally, Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony, a beloved blend of Central European classicism with American influences, including spirituals and Native American music, rounds out the evening with its distinctive Americana.