Symphonies East & West

Concert Details

Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor
Arjun Verma, sitar

• SHANKAR: Symphony
• COPLAND: Symphony No. 3

Run Time: Approx. 120 minutes

Guest Artists

NOTES FROM THE MAESTRO

“As you all know, we’re gearing up for America’s 250th birthday, and I’m excited to present a special evening featuring the most important American symphony ever written: Copland’s Symphony No. 3. This work has never been performed by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, making this a historic occasion. We’ll pair it with music from India, a nod to the Spanish delegation that sailed west in search of new lands.

Aaron Copland, a Jewish immigrant from Brooklyn, is often regarded as the father of the American sound. In the 30s and 40s, he recognized the power of radio broadcasts and aimed to create music for the “common man,” standing in stark contrast to the increasingly atonal and inaccessible works from European composers.

Composed at the end of World War II, Copland’s Symphony No. 3 draws inspiration from his iconic “Fanfare for the Common Man.” It beautifully fuses his ballet style with the Americana sound that defines his symphonic works.

We’ll also feature a work by Ravi Shankar, the renowned sitar player who famously inspired the Beatles. Just a year before his passing, he composed “Symphony” for sitar and orchestra, a piece that is exuberant, alien, and beautiful. Indian classical music is vastly different from Western styles, deeply sophisticated and rooted in the memorization of long ragas passed down from guru to student.

Arjun Verma, who studied under the legendary Ali Akhbar Khan, will be our soloist for this extraordinary performance. Don’t miss this unique evening of musical exploration!”