Michael Tilson Thomas conducts his own works
With Measha Brueggergosman, Kristen Toedtman, Kara Dugan, and John Wilson
Thank you for your understanding.
Cast
Luke Kritzeck — Lighting designer
Measha Brueggergosman — Soprano
Kristen Toedtman — Vocalist
Kara Dugan — Vocalist
John Wilson — Pianist
Patrick Posey — Alto saxophonist
Sarah Roberts — Tenor/baritone saxophonist
Mark Grisez — Trumpeter
Arno Tri Pramudia — Trombonist
Justin Smith — Lead guitarist
Craig Wagner — Rhythm guitarist
Mike Valerio — Bass guitarist
Michael Casterisano — Drummer
Alan Steinberger — Keyboardist
Program notes
The superstar maestro and composer Michael Tilson Thomas (known to his fans as “MTT”!) leads the New World Symphony in two of his own musical creations.
Composer, conductor, pianist, music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director and founder of the New World Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas has won admirers around the globe, from orchestra members to audiences. Born in Los Angeles in 1944, MTT had a passion from a young age for literature and American symphonic music, which he has never stopped promoting. Some of his works draw their inspiration from the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and Carl Sandburg. His Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind is a musical adaptation of the poem of the same name by Carl Sandburg: “I read his collection Smoke and Steel and revelled in the images of speed, power and outcry that were there.” A prodigy mentored by the great Leonard Bernstein himself, he has won 11 Grammy awards and participated in more than 120 recordings, and doesn’t seem to be ready to stop any time soon!
Photo: Michael Tilson Thomas © Bill Swerbenski
