Aaron Diehl (right) – Photo by Maria Jarzyna.
Chamber Music Pittsburgh (CMP) opens its 2023–24 MainStage Live season with a unique collaboration between flutist Brandon Patrick George and pianist Aaron Diehl. Songs of Black America, which George and Diehl are touring across the country, celebrates the rich lineage of Black American composers.
“It is an unusual gift to see two incredibly talented soloists performing together,” says Kristen Linfante, Executive Director of Chamber Music Pittsburgh. “We are excited to welcome them to Pittsburgh for an unforgettable concert that demonstrates the beauty and diversity of chamber music.”
Songs of Black America features works by Valerie Coleman, Undine Smith Moore, Florence Price, William Grant Still, Mary Lou Williams, and three spirituals arranged by George and Diehl. The concert will also debut Time in Circular Motion, a new commission by Grammy Award–winning American jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner, written especially for the Songs of Black America tour.
“It’s unique to have a classical flutist and a classically trained jazz pianist share the stage with such a deeply personal program,” says George. “There is so much joy and life in this music, and we hope people leave feeling uplifted.”
George is a “knockout musician with a gorgeous sound” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). This Grammy-nominated flutist has performed across the United States and Europe, sharing his talents as a soloist and member of the beloved Imani Winds Quintet. CMP welcomed Imani Winds as its first artists-in-residence during the 2022–23 MainStage Live season, and the quintet has an additional connection to the upcoming program: Imani Winds founder and former flutist Valerie Coleman is one of the composers featured in Songs of Black America. A celebrated pianist and “composer worth watching” (The New York Times), Diehl has become one of the most recognizable solo pianists of his generation. Diehl gained international acclaim as a young musician for his command of the jazz genre and the Great American Songbook, touring with legends like Wynton Marsalis and Cécile McLorin Salvant. More recently, his versatile interpretations of modern classical works have gained critical acclaim.
Program for Songs of Black America
- William Grant Still Suite
- Florence PriceFour Songs
- Undine Smith Moore Three Pieces for Flute and Piano
- Valerie Coleman Fanmi Imèn
- Intermission
- Mary Lou Williams Blues for Peter
- Sullivan Fortner Time in Circular Motion (2023)
- arr. Brandon Patrick George & Aaron Diehl Three Spirituals
- Valerie Coleman Wish Sonatine
TICKETS AND DETAILS
The concert takes place on Monday, September 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in Downtown Pittsburgh.
Individual tickets for the 2023–24 MainStage Live concerts range from $35–53 and can be purchased online
Categories: Show Previews
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