Defiance

Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5., the principal work on the program, inspired the concert title “Defiance.”  In the 1930s during the Stalin era, Shostakovich wrote an opera called Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, which was condemned by the Communist Party. Shostakovich knew that this censure meant he was in danger of being arrested by the authorities, and his next work heard in public had to be far less controversial.  Instead of playing it safe with something more obviously patriotic that was calculated to please the Communist party, Symphony No. 5 was what he composed to be performed next.  He not only managed to compose something the censors would tolerate, but he created a great masterpiece with sarcastic melodies of forced celebration and an emotional slow movement that brought many in the audience to tears at its premier.

Carlisle, Massachusetts native Alex Kinmonth performs Ludwig August Lebrun’s Oboe Concerto No. 1, a rarely heard classical oboe concerto. Alex was appointed principal oboe of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the age of 21, while still studying at Julliard.  He earned his Bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Nathan Hughes of the Metropolitan Opera and graduated with the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music.