Night After Night

Writing, a blog, and a newsletter. By Steve Smith.

Program notes

  • Program note: Gabriella Smith, Breathing Forests

    I’ve greatly appreciated recent opportunities to do some out-of-town program notes writing, none more so than the brief essay I provided for tonight’s Cleveland Orchestra premiere of Breathing Forests by Gabriella Smith.

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  • Program note: Julian Anderson, Symphony No. 2

    Julian Anderson (Photograph: John Batten Photography) Julian AndersonSymphony No. 2 ("Prague Panoramas") (2019-21)Cleveland Orchestra, Dec. 7 & 9, 2023Program note My first program note for the venerable Cleveland Orchestra, for the U.S. premiere of Symphony No. 2, "Prague Panoramas," by English composer Julian Anderson. The program, conducted by Semyon Bychkov, also includes Bohuslav Martinů's Concerto

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  • Program note: Missy Mazzoli at the BBC Proms, August 14, 2022.

    Missy Mazzoli and Jennifer Koh (center) with Santtu-Matias Rouvali and the Philharmonia Orchestra. (Photograph: Missy Mazzoli's Instagram) On Sunday, August 14, the brilliant violinist Jennifer Koh joined the Philharmonia Orchestra and its principal conductor, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, in the European premiere of a new composition by Missy Mazzoli, Violin Concerto ("Procession"), during the BBC Proms at

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