Tobias Picker, deemed “our finest composer for the lyric stage” by The Wall Street Journal, joins Devin Patrick Hughes on One Symphony. Tobias is a prolific composer in all genres. He has composed six operas, commissioned by Dallas Opera, LA Opera, Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Opera Theatre St. Louis.
Tobias Picker has composed numerous symphonic works including three symphonies, concertos for violin, viola, cello, and oboe, as well as four piano concertos and a ballet. Picker’s recent honors include the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording of Fantastic Mr. Fox, and a lifetime membership at the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Thank you for joining us on One Symphony. Thanks to Tobias Picker for sharing his music and insights. Thank you to Visconti Arts for making this episode possible. You can find more info at https://tobiaspicker.com.
Music Selections—all music by Tobias Picker, except for the first selection.
Gian Carlo Menotti, Suite from Amahl and the Night Visitors. Performed by the Cleveland Pops Orchestra conducted by Louis Lane.
First movement from Symphony No. 1; performed by the San Francisco Symphony. Edo de Waart, conductor.
Awakenings, adapted from the non-fiction book by Oliver Sacks. Libretto by Aryeh Lev Stollman, produced by Odyssey Opera in 2023 of Boston in partnership with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Gil, Rose, Conductor. Directed by James Robinson. Commissioned by Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
The Encantadas for narrator and orchestra. Based on the writings of Herman Melville. Sir John Geilgud, narrator; Christoph Eschenbach, conductor; Houston Symphony Orchestra.
"Letter Aria" from Emmeline. Text by J.D. McClatchy Virginia Douglas, soprano Amir Farid, piano. Conducted by Modestas Pitrenas. Supported by Modestas Pitrenas.
“I See A Woman” from Lili Elbe. Text by Aryeh Lev Stollman. Featuring Lucia Lucas as Lili. Performed by the St. Gallen Symphonic Orchestra.
Old and Lost Rivers, for orchestra. Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Williams.
Nova featuring Benjamin Hudson- Violin John Graham - Viola Fred Sherry - Cello Don Palma - Bass Tobias Picker – Piano.
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