Symphony orchestras' artistic planners often program a concerto sandwiched in between an overture and a symphony. For this week’s Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert, that formula was slightly adjusted in a most intriguing way, and the program provided a welcome opportunity to hear major works from the 18th, 19th, and 21st centuries. In addition, the program highlighted how a composer’s cultural heritage can influence his music output.

Michael Gandolfi’s 2015 Imaginary Numbers was born out of a commission to honor, in part, the composer’s friendship with ASO Music Director Robert Spano. Gandolfi is one of the most honored composers in the contemporary American classical music scene. He has won numerous prestigious awards and he is head of composition at the renowned New England Conservatory of Music. He is also a member of Spano’s “Atlanta School”, which is designed to perform the work of contemporary American composers – including Jennifer Higdon, Christopher Theofanidis, Osvaldo Golijov and Adam Schoenberg. One of the most important characteristics of the music of these composers is that it is often tonal, lyrical, and understandable at first listening. For the complete review, go here: https://bachtrack.com/review-mozart-bartok-gandolfi-atlanta-symphony-orchestra-spano-denk-andrus-brady-ardan-tiscione-april-2019