There's an unmistakable Russian tint to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's 2002-2003 season -- 17 works by 11 Russian composers. But that's only part of the picture.
Also providing color is a welcome sampling of pieces by contemporary composers, along with works by rather infrequently encountered masters of the past (more than a dozen pieces will get their first BSO performances). Putting the finishing touches on the season, as usual, will be lots of meat-and-potatoes music.
The lineup lacks the extra excitement that, say, a world premiere can provide, but it has distinct strengths. For all of the greatest hits to be found (the difference in repertoire between the orchestra's "Celebrity" and "Favorites" series seems to get smaller every year), there are also several exceptional items on the list, from a riveting concerto for "water percussion" by Tan Dun to Alexander Zemlinsky's lush Lyric Symphony.
Even some of the most popular music scheduled has an extra jolt of novelty. It's not often that you come across a night of George Gershwin standards, including Rhapsody in Blue and selections from Porgy and Bess, conducted by a Russian. BSO music director Yuri Temirkanov has led a little bit of Gershwin here before (American in Paris figured on a gala concert last September), but this all-
Gershwin program will provide the biggest local showcase yet for his longtime love of the composer.
Fazil Say, one of the more imaginative young pianists around these days, will be the soloist in the Rhapsody. Soprano Kishna Davis and the Morgan State University Choir will be featured in the Porgy excerpts.
All-German programs
Needless to say, Temirkanov's time on the podium is of prime importance as he continues to mold the BSO. How long he will continue to do the molding is unknown; his contract ends next season and there is still no word on a renewal. Last week, BSO president John Gidwitz would say only that Temirkanov had reserved dates in 2003-2004 for the BSO.
In 2002-2003, Temirkanov will devote a good deal of attention to the great Austro / German canon -- Haydn (Clock Symphony), Mozart (Violin Concerto No. 5 with Elisabeth Batiashvili), Beethoven (including Piano Concerto No. 3 with John Lill and Symphony No. 2), Mendelssohn (Italian Symphony), Schumann (Piano Concerto with Michie Koyama), and Brahms (Symphony No. 4).
