Meeting the Music of Martin?

Bohuslav Martin? is a composer with which audiences are typically unfamiliar. Last season, orchestras nationwide programmed his music only eight times (compared to Mozart’s

whopping 425), but despite his underdog status, his music is surprisingly well-received. Most of his music – and there is a lot of it: sixteen operas, fifteen ballets, six symphonies and a respected canon of chamber music – is neo-classical; think of Samuel Barber with a hint of whimsy. Martin? was born in Bohemia and studied in France with Albert Roussel. Like many artists, he was forced to flee his home at the start of the Second World War, and taught in New York until 1956.

Inspired by Berlioz’s masterpiece, Symphonie fantastique, Martin?’s symphony that we’ll hear this weekend is his last, titled Fantaisies symphoniques. In the spirit of Berlioz’s sprawling work, Martin?’s work is quirky, colorful and spontaneous.

Other highlights of this weekend’s concerts include performances of better-known works: Schubert’s “Great” C-major Symphony, and, by Mozart himself, the overture to Don Giovanni. This week’s guest conductor is the former music director of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit and Toronto Symphonies, Günther Herbig. Herbig was unable to conduct in the West for many years due to the political situation in East Germany, but built an astonishing reputation once he did, appearing with every major American orchestra. Come hear his decades of international experience perform works both familiar and fresh!