Chi-chi Nwanoku and Errollyn Wallen
Jennifer Lindsay and Maria Dominique Lopez
Anthony Parnther
John Malveaux of
writes:
The
Southeast Symphony 70th season finale
“REVOLUTION/RESURRECTION an
AMERICAN RETROSPECTIVE” Sept 16, 2018 Royce Hall-UCLA symbolically
extended the
United States Civil Rights campaign of Dr. King to the current cry for
diversity
in classical music with an international perspective through dialogue,
video,
and musical performances. The first half included remarks by
Afro-British double
bassist Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, founder, artistic and executive director of
the
Chineke! Foundation. The foundation supports, inspires and encourages
Black and
Minority Ethnic (BME) classical musician working in the UK and Europe.
After Chi-chi, Belize-born composer Errollyn Wallen gave additional
remarks focusing on challenges of women composers. Remarks became
reality through a
stirring performance by the Southeast Symphony of Errollyn Wallen
‘Concerto
Grosso for Piano, Violin and Double Bass’ with Chi-chi featured on
double bass
and Errollyn Wallen on piano.
In
contrast to multiple new arrangements of hymns, spirituals and the United
States debut of a little known work by a female composer of African descent,
the second half featured Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 2 (highlights). Southeast
Symphony joyfully demonstrated to a large engaged audience at Royce Hall that the
western canon of classical music can co-exist with music outside the Western canon to expand inclusion.
Recalling
Dr. King "No lie can live forever." We shall overcome because William
Cullen Bryant is right. "Truth crushed to earth will rise again." We shall overcome because James Russell Lowell is right. "Truth
forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne. Yet that scaffold sways
the future.”
See pic 1 Chi-chi Nwanoku (left) with Errollyn
Wallen (right), pic 2 Jennifer Lindsay, Soprano, Maria Dominique Lopez, Alto
(Gustav Mahler RESURRECTION), pic 3 music director/conductor Anthony Parnther
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