Overview

Climate change is the existential challenge of our time; we ignore it at our peril. The Phil explores the consequences of human greed and indulgence through musical allegory, including Strauss’s vivid tone poem, Don Juan, and the world premiere of Drew Hemenger’s Ozymandias, featuring Matthew Plenk, tenor, and presenting the Boulder Phil Chorus in its inaugural performance. This piece draws upon Native American texts, UN climate reports and speeches by Greta Thunberg, in addition to Shelley’s famous poem.
The Boulder Phil is very excited to be partnering with the City of Boulder’s Climate Initiatives Department for Hymn to the Earth. Members of the city’s climate team will be on-hand to share climate action ideas and resources, as well as collect submissions to the city’s climate audio collage project. Attendees will also be invited to share their vision for a more climate-resilient Boulder.

Schedule

Saturday, October 8, 7:00PM

Venue

Macky Auditorium – Boulder, CO

Program

Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
Michael Butterman, conductor
Matthew Plenk, tenor
Boulder Philharmonic Chorus
Gregory Gentry, Chorus Master
ABELS
Global Warming
HEMENGER
Ozymandias: To Sell a Planet | World Premiere
MOZART
Overture to Don Giovanni
WAGNER
Trauermusik from Götterdӓmmerung
STRAUSS
Don Juan

Arrive early to learn more about climate action ideas and resources from NCAR and the City of Boulder’s Climate Team. There will not be a pre-concert talk at this performance.

Add Hymn to the Earth to a 3 or More Concert Season Subscription and save 10% on any Masterworks Series performances HERE
For $10 Student/Youth Tickets and personalized assistance with your ticket order, call the Boulder Phil Box Office at 303.449.1343 or email chris@boulderphil.org.

Please note online ticket sales end at 2 PM the day of the concert. Tickets may be purchased at Macky Auditorium starting at 6 PM.

Beyond the Performance

Drew Hemenger on Ozymandias: To Sell a Planet

“Each passing year, I find myself becoming increasingly fervent about our fragile environment, and as climate change is rapidly moving from an issue of political debate to obvious reality, this crucial issue seems to finally be gaining traction with the global community. Musically, my two greatest passions are the voice and the orchestra, and so I jumped at the opportunity to combine these forces in a work concerning the danger to the world we live in.”

Matthew Plenk on discovering his passion

“I first started singing in the church choir when I was a kid. Then later on, I decided to go to college and get a music education. While I was auditioning for schools, I was encouraged to go into performance, so I was a double major: music education and performance. After being in a conservatory environment for a few weeks, I realized that teaching was not where my passion lay – (operatic) performance was more for me.”

UP NEXT
Gran Duo: Higdon and Foley
Saturday, November 12, 7PM

Xavier Foley, contrabass, and Eunice Kim, violin, join the Phil in a brilliant performance of Bottesini’s Gran Duo Concertante. GET DETAILS AND TICKETS