Arild's Inaugural Features Music of Amy Beach

One might expect to see one of the famous “Three Bs”— Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms— on the program for Arild Remmereit’s inaugural concert this coming Friday, September 30th, but instead the RPO will kick off the season with Amy Beach’s "Gaelic" Symphony. This marks the first of many exciting pieces to be performed by the RPO this year in an effort to uncover some of the many hidden treasures of women composers.

Upon first hearing Beach’s symphony, composer George Chadwick wrote, “I always feel a thrill of pride myself when I hear a fine work by any one of us, and as such you will have to be counted ... one of the boys.” Although intended to be a compliment, Chadwick’s words confirmed the imposing gender boundary in music composition at the time of Beach’s work.

Completing the symphony in 1896, Beach worked in a time when American women had not yet secured the right to vote. However, she did achieve success after the premiere, enjoying two performances by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and eventually across the country. Her work has resurfaced again in the last decade, and the RPO is proud to bring this exciting music to you.

Click on the image below to listen to the first movement of Beach's symphony.



Later this season, we’ll hear similarly exciting works. To name a few: Job, a poignant cantata by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (October 20/22); Three Latin American Dances by Gabriela Lena Frank (November 17/19); and Clara Schumann’s romantic Piano Concerto (May 10/12).

Tickets for Friday and Saturday's concerts (9/30 and 10/1) start at $15. To purchase, call 454-2100 or click here to buy online.