South Bend Symphony Orchestra explores ‘Dvořák’s New World’ with tenor George Shirley

SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Symphony Orchestra performs its final Masterworks concert of the season at 7:30 p.m. May 4 at the Morris Performing Arts Center, 211 N. Michigan St.

Titled “Dvořák’s New World,” the program, a press release says, unpacks Antonín Dvořáks prediction that the future of classical music would be found in the United States rather than Europe.

African American tenor George Shirley joins Music Director Alastair Willis and the SBSO as narrator for the concert.

The program includes excerpts from George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” followed by Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha’ Tate’s “Chokfi’,” which draws inspiration from Chickasaw folklore about the trickster rabbit and that his website describes as “Sarcasm for String Orchestra and Percussion.”

Florence Price’s “Ethiopia’s Shadow in America” continues the exploration of American classical music.

There are also two excerpts from Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” in the first half of the concert, with the full work concluding the performance after intermission.

According to a press release, the four-movement orchestral work combines Dvořák’s mastery of orchestration with his ability to infuse his compositions with the spirit of folk music and nationalistic pride.

A native of Indianapolis, Shirley became the first African American tenor to perform a leading role at New York’sMetropolitan Opera, in 1961. During his 11 seasons with the opera company, he performed 28 major roles in 26productions.

He also has sung with the Royal Opera (Covent Garden, London), Deutsche Oper (Berlin), Chicago Lyric Opera andnumerous other major opera companies around the world.

During his 49-year career, Shirley has recorded for RCA, Columbia, Decca, Angel, Vanguard, CRI and Philips and received a Grammy Award in 1968 for his role (Ferrando) in the RCA recording of Mozart’s ”Così fan tutte.”

“It is a privilege to be part of this event and reflect on Dvořák’s New World …” Shirley says in a press release, “the New World that held so much promise, some of which has been realized and much of which remains unachieved.

“The hope enkindled by the birth of the New World so tellingly embodied in Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 remains a dream deferred that persistently and rightfully challenges our determination and ability to make it a reality.”

Tickets are $99-$19.

For more information, call 574-235-9190 or visit morriscenter.org or southbendsymphony.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: SBSO explores ‘Dvořák’s New World’ with tenor George Shirley