An American Dream

Discover musical freedom, in this remarkable performance of Florence Price’s Third Symphony. Price composed a rich orchestration that conveys both the universal power of music and a very personal experience. Not surprisingly so, as this Afro-American female composer’s work, living in the 1930s in the southern United States, was intrinsically tied up with her personal identity. Having languished in obscurity for so many decades, it is remarkable and beautiful to again be touched by her.

After fleeing the suffocating South, Price composed her Third Symphony during the Harlem Renaissance in Chicago. The work reflects a unique fusion of European symphonic traditions with Afro-American influences in the form of spirituals, rhythm & blues, and is perfectly cut out for the American conductor Andrew Grams. Price’s deep and proud tones are contrasted with the highly melodical tunes of Mendelssohn’s world-famous Violin Concerto. This lyrical masterpiece is performed by the exceptional violinist Karen Gomyo. The concert starts with Gershwin’s dynamic An American in Paris, merging jazz and classical music in a vibrant tribute to the city of light.