Back to Bach

Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.

Daniel Meyer, Artistic Director
Lorna McGhee, flute

Program
Walker: Lyric for Strings (featuring photos by Teenie Harris)
Bach: Flute Concerto in D minor
 Lorna McGhee, flute
Grieg: Holberg Suite, op. 40

Known for her “exceptionally rich and vibrant tone” (Washington Post) Scotland-born Lorna McGhee, principal flute for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra plays CPE Bach’s Flute Concerto.

George Walker was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Written in 1946, Lyric for Strings remains Walker’s best most-performed work. Originally titled “Lament” the work was dedicated to his grandmother’s memory.

Composed in honor of Norwegian writer, Grieg called the Holberg Suite “my powdered-wig piece,” for its baroque dance style.

>DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOK  | PROGRAM NOTES

Lyric for Strings Featuring Charles “Teenie” Harris Photos

The WSO is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Carnegie Museum of Art on Opening Night. As the WSO musicians perform George Walker’s Lyric for Strings selected photos by Charles “Teenie” Harris will be paired with the music and projected on the stage.

George Walker (1922-2018) was the first African American man to win the Pulitzer Prize for music. Charles “Teenie” Harris (1908–1998) was the photographer for the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the nation’s prominent black newspapers photographing Pittsburgh’s historic African American community, This program is the next in a series of celebrating composers of color and female composers. We are deeply grateful to the CMOA for allowing us to showcase these incredible historical photos

The concert features flutist Lorna McGhee performing Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach’s Flute Concerto in D minor. The concert concludes with Grieg’s Holberg Suite, op. 40.

Scottish-born Lorna McGhee was appointed principal flute of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2012. Known for her “exceptionally rich and vibrant tone” (Washington Post) she has performed as guest principal with such notable orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, London Symphony and London Philharmonic. She is also a member of the flute faculty of Carnegie Mellon University.

MUSICIANS OF THE WSO:

DANIEL MEYER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR

VIOLIN
Warren Davidson, concertmaster
Jason Neukom, associate concertmaster
Dena Miller, assistant concertmaster
Gabrielle Faetini
Julia Simeone

VIOLIN II
Joshua Huang, acting principal
Samantha Nelson, acting assistant principal
Richard Palermo
Julia Poetain

VIOLA
David Sinclair, principal
Maija Anstine, acting assistant principal
Ben Schantz
Regina Ketter

CELLO
Will Teegarden, acting principal
Cecilia Caughman, acting assistant principal
Beideth Briceno

BASS
Jacob McAleavey, acting principal
Joe Hernandez, acting assistant principal

HARPISCHORD
Brian Gilling, acting principal