Bay Area Rainbow Symphony

Seth Grosshandler’s surging, turbulent, Cayuga Lake-inspired overture, envisaged “as part of the dreamed-of re-opening of the world”; David Conte’s lyrical and romantic concerto full of long, arching melodies; and Alice Gomez’s 2017 chamber work 112 Degrees. Featuring soloist Emil Miland, cello.

Seth Grosshandler writes: "It was early in the pandemic when I was asked by the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra in Ithaca, New York, to write a piece for chamber orchestra in memory of a benefactor of the orchestra named Percy Browning. I was at that time more in touch with nature than I had ever been—deprived of city life and urban pleasures, I took to frequent walking and cycling in rural surroundings. I knew the piece would open a concert, and I also envisaged it as part of the dreamed-of re-opening of the world. The title of “Overture” seemed to fit. As did “Cayuga”—the name of the orchestra, of course, but also the name of the beautiful lake on which Ithaca is situated."

David Conte writes: "The inspiration for my cello concerto commissioned in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Bear Valley Music Festival came first from cellist Emil Miland, a favorite guest artist at the Festival, and a longtime friend and collaborator. My concerto is in one movement, about 23 minutes in length, and divided into four sections: moderately, very fast, very slow, and moderately fast. Mr. Miland has performed frequently with many of the worldʼs finest singers, and his playing for me as always embodied many features of vocal technique. To that end, I fashioned in this concerto long, arching melodies that are often unabashedly lyrical and romantic in character. The work alternates passages of singing melodies with intensely rhythmic and animated music, always unfolding and inspired by the uniquely expressive character of the solo cello."