I’ve just arrived in Birmingham, Alabama and had my first rehearsals of The Protecting Veil with the Alabama Symphony, who are absolutely first class. Chief Conductor Justin Brown is doing an amazing job, and there’s a city-wide buzz about the orchestra, who are evidently on a steep upward artistic curve. The Alys Stephens Hall is very good to play in, so I’m really looking forward to the first concert tomorrow night, which starts with an arrangement that Justin and I made for cello and strings of Albinoni’s Adagio.
I guess this is what Birmingham UK felt like 30 years ago when a young Simon Rattle took on the job there and went on to do such extraordinary things. If they get the funding they need, I think something similar will happen here. Watch that Deep Southern space!
2 Comments
I am a high school senior in Alabama and I just got back from your concert at the University of Montevallo. I have a copy of Justin Brown’s recording to the Protecting Veil, but the piece is so much more effective in a live context. It was deeply moving and very religiously transcendental. Thank you so much for your brilliant performance.
By the way, you are right about the orchestra: it is going places. We are so lucky to have such a talent as Justin Brown spearheading the effort of making Birmingham the cultural capitol of the South. I don’t know if you had a chance to talk to any of the orchestra members, but you should look up Craig Hultgren online, one of our cellists. He is at the heart of the new music scene in the city and around the country.
Thank you again for vividly inspired performance.
I am a high school senior in Alabama and I just got back from your concert at the University of Montevallo. I have a copy of Justin Brown’s recording to the Protecting Veil, but the piece is so much more effective in a live context. It was deeply moving and very religiously transcendental. Thank you so much for your brilliant performance.
By the way, you are right about the orchestra: it is going places. We are so lucky to have such a talent as Justin Brown spearheading the effort of making Birmingham the cultural capitol of the South. Musicians like you can help us attain that goal. Thank you again for vividly inspired performance.