Robert Moody, conductor

Ricardo Morales, clarinet

C. IVES (arr. S. Adler) – Variations on “America” 

S. BARBER – Adagio for Strings

A. COPLAND – Clarinet Concerto

V. COLEMAN – Tracing Visions

A. COPLAND – Appalachian Spring

The BCO’s 2026-27 season begins with a showcase of American art music. The concert begins with Samuel Adler’s string orchestra arrangement of Charles Ives’ Variations on “America”inspired by the composer’s work for solo organ immediately followed by Samuel Barber’s seminal Adagio for Strings, performed at the memorials of several American presidents including FDR and JFK. Then the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Principal Clarinet Ricardo Morales joins the orchestra to perform Copland’s jazz-infused Clarinet Concerto, written for Benny Goodman in 1949. After intermission, Maestro Moody leads the orchestra in Valerie Coleman’s evocative and beautiful Tracing Visions before the orchestra returns to Copland to close the concert with the ever popular Appalachian Spring!