Ravinia 2024 Issue 3

PAVILION 7:30 PM THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024 CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MARIN ALSOP, conductor AUGUSTIN HADELICH, violin # ALENA HRON, guest conductor † WALKER Icarus in Orbit * Alena Hron BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances fromWest Side Story Prologue—“Somewhere”—Scherzo— Mambo—Cha-Cha—Meeting Scene— “Cool” Fugue—Rumble MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E minor, op. 64 Allegro molto appassionato [ attacca ] Andante [ attacca ] Allegro molto vivace Augustin Hadelich STRAVINSKY The Firebird Suite (1919) Introduction—The Firebird and Its Dance— Variation of the Firebird The Princesses’ Khorovod (Round) Infernal Dance of King Kashchei Lullaby Finale There will be no intermission in this program. † Ravinia debut # Ravinia Steans Music Institute alum * First performance by the CSO and at Ravinia Ravinia expresses its appreciation for the generous support of Mainstage Sponsor Megan P. and John L. Anderson . GEORGE WALKER (1922–2018) Icarus in Orbit Scored for two flutes and piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, three horns, three trumpets, two trombones, tuba, timpani, celesta, marimba, percussion, harp, and strings The trailblazing African American pianist and composer George Walker grew up in Washing- ton, DC, the son of Dr. George Theophilus Walker, a physician and émigré from Jamaica, and Rosa King Walker, an accomplished pianist from the District. The Walkers encouraged their two children, George and his younger sister Frances, to study piano. Both siblings went on to break racial barriers as professional musicians and educators. George and Frances lived into their 90s and died within three months of each other in 2018. A precocious learner, young George gradu- ated from Dunbar High School at age 14. He entered Oberlin College the following fall as a piano major. In his junior year, Walker became organist at Oberlin’s Graduate School of Theol- ogy. Completing his undergraduate studies at age 18, Walker enrolled in the graduate program at the Curtis Institute of Music, earning artist certificates in piano and, his newfound passion, composition in 1945. “I had so much energy that I wanted to do something else after spending hours practicing at the keyboard!” Months later, on November 13, Walker made his piano recital debut at New York’s Town Hall under the spon- sorship of Mr. and Mrs. Efrem Zimbalist. His concerto debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy (as winner of the Phil- adelphia Youth Auditions) took place two weeks later. These landmark achievements of 1945 all were firsts for an African American musician. Walker concentrated on developing his career as a concert soloist over the next few years. In 1950, he became the first African American in- strumentalist signed by major concert manage- ment, National Concert Artists, who arranged an extended European tour four years later. Walker entered the Eastman School of Music in George Walker RAVINIAMAGAZINE • JULY 22 – AUGUST 4, 2024 54