Austin Symphony Orchestra with Ballet Austin

Peter Bay, conductor
Long Center’s Dell Hall

Following the success of POE / A Tale of Madness, Stephen Mills presents two World Premieres! We celebrate the arrival of the season of wildflowers and renewal as Stephen Mills shares a pair of new works.  

The first work is set to Czech composer Antonin Dvořák’s “String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96.” Nicknamed the American Quartet, Featuring live accompaniment by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the moving melodies of Dvořák’s composition evoke the exuberant feelings of springtime.   

The second piece on the program features the music of contemporary composer and Grammy award-winning artist Bryce Dessner: guitarist, keyboardist, and songwriter for his band, The National. Called “a vital and rare force in new music,” Dessner’s compositions have been performed by Orchestre de Paris, BBC Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and many more. He has worked with a variety of artists, including Philip Glass, Paul Simon, Bon Iver, and Taylor Swift on her song “Coney Island.” Dessner’s “Concerto for Two Pianos,” written for and first performed by Katia and Marielle Labèque, premiered in 2018 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Dessner regularly tours with his band, including a recent performance at Austin’s Moody Center in November of 2023.  

Love’s Gentle Spring unites the beauty of spring, music, and movement harmoniously in concert. 

PROGRAM:
DESSNER: Concerto for Two Pianos

Get your tickets HERE.