This week's Baltimore Symphony Orchestra program finds Marin Alsop conducting works by the original American musical maverick, Charles Ives, and two composers she is not automatically associated with - Mozart and Saint-Saens. The latter will be represented by his popular Symphony No. 3, nicknamed "Organ," for its thunderous use of that instrument in the finale. It's a sure-fire score that combines French refinement with thematic ingenuity and brilliant tone colors.
The Mozart item is his Symphony No. 29, which strikes a perfect balance between elegance and propulsion. From Ives, there's The Unanswered Question, which seems particularly appropriate during these unusually uncertain times.
