WEDNESDAY, July 15, 7:00pm

Michael Stern, conductor (bio)

ON THE PROGRAM

Theofanidis/Sohn/Assad/Mason/Cummins Five American Portraits

Richard Strauss Till Eulenspiegels Merry Pranks

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

“American Icons” highlights the individuals—visionaries, trailblazers, and cultural forces—whose lives have left an indelible mark on our collective story. Five American Portraits is a recently premiered work by five contemporary composers that offers a multifaceted tribute, each composer crafting a distinct musical lens on an influential figure. Varied in voice and style, the suite moves through reflection, vitality, and bold expression, forming a mosaic of character studies that feel at once personal and expansive. Richard Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks closes the evening with virtuosic storytelling, its mischievous antihero leaping through the orchestra in dazzling episodes—reminding us that icons, whether revered or rebellious, are often defined by their audacity. 

Featured Photo from the Agnes Miner Collection, Breckenridge History.